The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-05

srator count
ries, the Gerrna Empire ana the Unft-S
ed Kingdom, all together contributed
only 9,722 immigrants toward this in
crease, while Great Britain actually
sent us smaller number of immi,
grants than ever before"
While Mr. Fitchie may be right as
regards the effect of the law in keep
ing out of this country the most desir-
able class of immigrants, is not our
loss in this connection more than even
ly offset by the protection afforded our
American Workingmen who would be
displaced by these aliens who come to
this country and serve under contract
at a lesser wage rate than that paid to
the American laborer? That the con-
tract system does offer premium to
immigra ton. there is no question, but
should it be understood that if our
laws restricting immigration are repeal
ed that only the more desirable class
Of foreigners will land on our shores?
While the repeal of our contract labor
law might secure for us a greater num-
Der of the more desirable class of fore
igners, We are Of the opinion that it
would be the means of not only increas-
ing the influx that is now pouring in,
but that it would bring in class of
labOrers that under the contract sys
tenn would lower the wage rate and di
vide the wages of our American work.
ingmen and fill our country with
tramps seeking for employment. We
hoy in ind Of irC in
which Italian laborers We're given en-
ployment to the exclusion of Americans
who were considered ''less desirable,'
solely because the Italians were willing
to accept an amount for their services
that the American could not live upon.
Is such condition of affairs conducive
to our social advancement? Yet, this
is what the repeal of our contract Ia
Dor law promises for us when we yield
to the inducement that by its repeal
we secure better class of citizens.
The foreigner who comes to America
under the present existing state of
our laws, is induced to do so with
the prospect Of competing with the
American laborer for American wages.
It is true that circumstances may
compel him to accept service at a
lesser rate than that paid his Amer
lean brother and thus constitute him a
dangerous opponent, but after all he is
not to be compared to the many who
contract their services before coming
over with a definite promise of employ
ment to the exclusion of our Ameican
workingmen. We do not assume that
in each and every instance of the 400,-
S42 arrivals at the port of New York,
that each one came inspired with per-
sonal determination to compete with
American labor at American prices,
but it is our opinion that such Of the
number as did come inspired with this
determination, are of a character whose
citizenship is most desirable. The
greater number,no doubt, were induced
to come through Inducements held out
by friends or relatives upon whom they
will depend to a greater or less degree
for support until they have. acquired a
| knowledge of the customs and laws of
our country. This latter class in their
| dependency, who were inspired with
promises of protection and. support,
should they come to America, form a
close analogy with that class who come
here under contract labor laws, and