The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-08-13

Fifty Thousand Canadians Compete with
Our Artisans-Add Nothing to Our Pros
perity.
It is claimed that the protective tariff
aids the wage Garner in our country. 1t
certainly protects the capitalist, manu-
facturer and producer. The laborer
without capital needs equal, il not
greater, protection.
The following amendment to the
Dingley tariff has been submitted by
Hon. John B. Corliss of Michigan. He
claims that it will prevent upward Of
90, 900 ablebodied artisans from annual
ly entering the United States and en-
gaging in competition with American
workmen in all the avenues of labor,
who now annually come with no inten-
tion Of adopting this country as their
home and who take the fruits OF from
three to six months labor to their
homes in foreign lands. Should we not
extend this protection to the laboring
people now in idleness?
Amend II. r. $40 by adding thereto the fol-
lowing sections:
any male alien over 10 years Of age, who re-
sides or retains his home in foreign country,
to come into the United States for the purpose
of engaging in any mechanical trade or man
ual labor for wages or salary, unless such
alien has in good faith made declaration be-
fore the proper inspection Of the bureau OF
immigration of his intention to become per-
manent resident or citizen of the United
States. Provided, That the provisions Of this
act shall not apply to aliens residing contigu-
GUS to and within a distance OF two miles from
the border line, nor to the employment Of sail
ors, deckhands or other employees Of vessels
or railroad trainhands, whose duties require
them to pass over the frontier to reach the
termini Of their runs.
Section 20. That any violation of the pre-
ceding section by any alien shall be deemed a
misdemeanor and any persons convicted OF
violation thereof shall be deported to the
country whence they came.
In speech made in the house of rep
resentatives ON May 10, 1896, Congress
man Corliss said, the house then con-
sidering the immigration laws of the
United States:
"This measure is intended as pro-
lection to American labor.
"It seeks to preserve the fruits of our
labor for those who carry the burdens
of American institutions and stand
ready to defend the honor of the nation.
"It does not affect any man, woman
or child who now lives in this country,
nor does it prevent any person from
seeking and securing home on Amer
lean soil and enjoying the blessings and
advantages of the labor markets Of this
country.
"It is estimated that from 80, 600 to
100, 900 human beings every year leave
their homes and families in foreign
countries and come to the United States
with no intention Of making this coun-
try their permanent home, and engage
in competition with our laboring men
during the most active business periods
and building seasons in all the avenues
Of labor, and at the end of the season or
prosperous period return to their for
eign homes, and there spend with their
families the fruits of American labor"
This class of competition with Amer
lean labor is not confined to the Sub
jects of Canada. They come from Italy,
Austria, Hungary and other foreign
countries. They bring with them moth
ing but physical force, capable of per-
forming work upon the low standard Of
other countries, and prey upon the la
Dor markets until they have accumu-
lated goodly sum for a laboring man
III foreign country, and return to their
homes and families abroad. While here
they add nothing to the value, prosper
ity, progress or genius Of the people of
this nation.
In advocating this measure we desire
to NEST emphatically disclaim any in
tention to prevent any capable, honest,
industrious, law abiding person from
seeking q home OF American soil and
obtaining the blessings and advantages
of this country for himself and his fam
lily, but we do object to the competition
of transient labor that enriches itself at
the expense of our labor, which it
cheapens and degrades, while taking
away from the prosperity of our coun-
try.