Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-10
PRAISE FOR LABOR UNIONS
Factory Inspector Commcnds Their
influence Upon Sociological Com
ditions in Pennsylvania.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-James Camp
bell, factory inspector OF Pennsylvania, was
before the Industrial commission today. Mr.
Campbel's testimony dealt with organized
labor generally and especially in the glass
industry. He spoke eulogstically of the
labor organization of the glass workers Of
his state, saying that before organization
was made practicable he had never known
an instance of manufacturers attempting TO
reduce wages which had not been success
full. Since organization had been effected
no reduction had been made without the
assent OF the workers. He declared that
there was now mutual confidence between
employer and operative.
MIR. Campbell was a strong advocate OF a
protective tariff, saying that It was generally
understood by the workmen that a change
in the tariff means a change in the scale of
wages. He said that wages of glass workers
had never been better in the history of the
country than at present, taking into consid-
Grafton the purchasing power OF money.
This improved condition he thought was due
to the protective tariff and to the organiza-
tion of labor. There had never been a per-
iod of greater depression he added, than
during the operation of the Wilson law
Mr.. Campbell spoke of the miners as a
class of men who were generally imposed
| upon, and he found especial fault with the
| store system, which he said was generally
in vogue about the mines. Under this system
the mine owners generally owned the stores
and the operators dealing with them were
required to pay from 25 to 40 per cent profit
| He did not believe the evil could be reached
| by legislation. but thought 1t could be met
| by organized labor.
| Speaking of sweat shops Mr.. Campbell
said there were about 10000 persons engaged
| in them in Pennsylvania. EIe thought the
| low prices were due to sharp competition
between sub-contractors. He spoke of the
filth about the sweat shops and said he had
himself seen clothing made in the shops
infested with vermin and very dirty. He
made especial mention of an investigation
| into the manufacture of soldiers clothing
where this condition was found to prevail
Mr.. Campbell declared that generally the
sweat shop people could not be believed
under OATH and he saw no means of regu-
lating the business short Of confscation and
destruction where the conditions were found
| to be contrary to law. Mr.. Campbell stated
that most of the retail stores handled the
sweat shop products AS a rule, the manu-
| facturers complied cheerfully with the laws
and only four or five prosecutions ever had
| been undertaken.
Mr.. Campbell spoke in general in COM
mandatory terms Of the labor laws of Penn
sylvania, saying that he had not advised any
| change except in the laws applying to sweat
| shops. There had been efforts to introduce
politics into the labor regulations, but these
| efforts had not been successful. The pres.
ent Pennsylvania law prohibits the employ
ment of children below the age of 13 ant
| the witness expressed the opinion that the
limit was not too low. 1t was true, he sait
| that the employment of children had
tendency to supplant adult labor, but it wa.
also true that there were many trades which
could be properly mastered only by beginning
| at an early age.
Mr.. Campbell expressed the opinion tha
the immigration laws should be more re-
strictive than at present. He was especiall!
opposed to allowing foreigners to come II
in droves, as he said they do. He though
many people were thus brought in who wer,
not desirable. In the matter of convic
labor he thought prisoners should be KEEP
on hand work and not given machines.