The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-09-04

,----.-..ss-s.1.41 % une IIe employ
/ lent of children of tender years is
prohibited. The hours of work for 9TH
ers are carefully prescribed. A recent
writer on the subject says: The
states of the American Union, where
an intense feeling of prejudice against
legislation restricting or regulating la
Dor prevails, may read the exhibit
from Europe with possible shame and
we hope with profit. States which
send their little tots to the factories
by lamplight, which consign them to
long hours of poorly-requited toll,
which make no provision for the edu-
cation of these children that they may
lead freer and happier lives, belong in
the same class with effete Spain and
semi-barbarous Roumania, and are far
below the land of the czar or industri-
ally unprogressive Italy
Child labor is not wrong done alone
to childhood. Society is vitality inter
ested in the fullest possible physical,
moral and intellectual development of
it's members and in the end it suffers
If the children who are to constitute its
membership are atrophied in the es-
sential qualities of healthy citizenship.
"It is inconceivable that any legis-
lature in the Union should refuse to
prevent the fragrant abuse Of child Ia
Dor. Greed should not be allowed to
coin the sweat of childhood and rob
children of tender years of two of the
richest jewels they can possess
health and education.
immigration.
''It has been a part Of our national
policy to permit the people of other
countries to share with us our national
blessings. Many millions have come
hither to unite their fortunes with ours
and join in upbuilding the country
They have been in the main desirable.
They have been Industrious, self-sac-
rificing, patriotic. When the national
honor has required they have stood
shoulder to shoulder with the native
born and won enduring glory.
For many years there was no limit
to our hospitality. There was no pro-
hibition against the coming of any
who desired, but in recent years we
have deemed in the national interest
to exclude certain undesirable classes,
among whom were contract laborers.
We did not CONSIDER those desirable
citizens who should be induced to come
under contract to take the places of
American workmen. We have not re-
garded it in the national interest ~
admit people who came under contract
to labor, and not of their own initia-
tive, to become joint sharers in the
splendid privileges of our institutions.
Chinese were. until comparatively
recent years, permitted freely to come
and enter the field of labor 1t became
apparent after a few years of expert
ence that without restriction immense
numbers of the subjects of the densely
populated Chinese empire would sweep
through the Western gates, invade the
Pacific coast, cross the Rocky noun
tains down into the Mississippi valley,
and to the Atlantic coast. taking the
places occupied or to be occupied by
American workmen.
"The Chinese have no ways in com
mon with US. They are not of our re-
ligion. They can never become blend
ed into our excellent citizenship. Act
Ing upon the principle that our SUI
preme duty is to our own countrymen,
we closed our doors against the fur
Their admission of Chinese laborers.
There were those who believed their
admission wise; that thereby we
would obtain abundant and cheap la
|. Dor. but those who so reasoned rea-
soned against our ultimate best inter
ests.
Cheap labor is not the sole end we
seek in the United States. 1t is our
pride that this IS not cheap-labor
country; that labor is better paid here
than in any other country. The senti-
, ment is proclaimed over and over
again from platform and from press.
Cheap labor? No. We do not want
cheap labor. We want well-paid la
Dor. We desire not only werl-pait
, labor, but want that labor steadily EN-
ployed.
J The Influx Of Foreigners.
"The currents of immigration ART
strongly set toward the United States
During the last ten years $685.
have landed upon our shores. and dur
, ing the fiscal year ending June 80 las
648,743 aliens were added to our num
! bers. 1t will be seen that in one yea
, enough arrived to found four cities Al
large as Kansas City; more thai
enough to make q city as large ant
populous as the great metropolis o
} st. Louis. and. IL tue present rate o
immigration continues enough will b.
, admitted in five years to make stat'
as great and populous as the state o
: Missouri. Many of the arrivals ar
desirable. Many Of them possess tn
:. qualities which will make good Cit
{ zens, and many of them give no prom
Use that they will strengthen our in
+ situations.
The quality of our immigration 1
: not so good nor so desirable as 1t wa
! in the earlier days. The percentag
;, of illiteracy has increased in a mark
! ed degree. OF those admitted las
I year above the age of Fourteen year