Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-08
TO RESTRICT IMMIGRATION
Labor Unions Taking Steps With That End
in View
Influx Of Foreign workmen an Obsta-
Gle 10 Success Ia Strikes Too Many
Men I'm skilled Trades

New York, May s--A conference Of
representatives OF district assembly 40,
knights Of Labor; district assembly Is
ana 22O OF Brooklyn, the Central FEEDER
ated Union and the Central Labor
union Of Brooklyn, was held last even
ing In this city 20 devise means 10 Sc
cure legislation 10 restrict immigration,
ana 20 amend the Chinese exclusion act
so as 10 include Japanese In It's provi-
sions. The can for the conference be-
gan by saying that an army OF foreign
laborers were hocklng 20 these shores,
and are crowdiug into occupations that
were already ovcrstocked, thus lnhict-
Ing great hardships upon American
workmen. II was declared that large
proportion Of these aliens were merely
birds Of passage, and did not Intend 10
become citizens
Delegate William Allen OF district as
sembly ~. said that the object OF the
conference was 10 see what could be
done TO restrict the immense lmmigia-
lion that was pouring In.
owe read that strikes are breaking
out an over the country he continued
but the obstacle % their success Is that
there is "a large amount OF unemployed
labor that is ready 10 step and nm tho
gaps The unemployed labor is caused
by the great immigration that flows In.
and as long as employers can get theRe
newcomers they win never yield 10 the
demands OF the strikers for an advance
In wages or reduction OF the bourg on
labor Last year several employers took
Immigrants from Ellis island 10 mn the
places OF the strikers.
THAT there are more men even IN the
skilled trades than there Is room for
is seen from the fact that some uniors
have raised their initiation fees Ia tbe
prohibitory figures Of 800 ana SIPS ana
several unions have closed their books
ana will not admit any one TO member
ship on any terms. SO do not See how,
trade organizations will oppose a move.
ment for restriction Of immigration. n
Is IN fact an outrage upon our workmen
20 allow an allen 20 come In and take
away his work or compel him 10 accent
starvation wages and Il is an OUTRAGE
upon the alien 90 let him come here mn
tl there rs work for him."
Delegate Allen then submitted .
rough draft for a proposed bill I,
prohibited any alien from enterine ~
United states 20 engage IN any occ,,.
patton VINO ala not intend to become .
citizen, or who intended 20 engage ~
any congestcd occupation or 10 take ~
place OF striker or locked-out v,org
man. or 20 work For less than the pre.
yalilue rate of wages.
The Dill requires the cOmmlssioper
labor statistics TO collect am informot,,..,
on industry and trade ana send 4, ~
the immigration bureau and the rni,sS
Siotes consuls. All Intending ir,r,f1
grants must apply Tor certificates tn,
me consuls who Will furnish the ~.
utlcates or not according 10 the insor
nation they receive as 10 the ds,oa,5
ior labor or the congestion OF labor ir
this country III
The bili finally proposes an am,,s
meut 90 the Chinese exclusion ACT ,-
dllns that an laws now I'M force ,
hibIunB the immigration OF Chine 49,
persons OF Chinese descent be- enn. .v y.
so as 20 Include the japanese IN its ' nv
visions. 'H pro
a committee was appointed ia d..,.
q hlil ana submit II for consldero,i"oI"i t
the various central labor organizs,,na,,o
and 10 report 'iOhs'