The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-04
LABOR MENACED
BY IMMIGRATION
"A. Fl. Hall Alleges Conspiracy to
Flood Country with Low
Grade Labor.
STEAMSHIP MERGER IS
THOUGHT SIGNIFICANT
Orator at Labor Picnic Also Holds
Cheap Labor Guilty of
Lower Birth Rate.

Albert H. Hall, orator of the day at
the Labor Day picnic at Spring PARK
spoke today on Undesirable lmmlgra-
tion.'' In discussing the causes OF the
great influx of cheap labor from south
ern Europe, Mr.. Hall advanced the
startling theory of gigantic consplr-
acy between the steamship merger and
the industrial and railroad combina-
lions, to flood the labor markets of
America with cheap labor, to "stifle
labor competition and cheaper wages.
After calling attention to the rapid
increase in the volume of immigration,
which last year rose to l ,2OO,O 900, of
which 50 per cent came from Italy,
Russia and tro-Hungary, Mr.. Hall
came to discussion of the causes for
this movement. The first he mentioned
was the activity of steamship agents in
advertising the rates and good wages of
America, and their loose restrictions on
passengers. He then said:
A Community Of Interest,"
s'It is something moro than coinei-
dence that this remarkable change in
our immigration should follow immed-
lately in the wake of Mr.. Morgan s
colossal merger Of the steamship lines,
and simultaneously with his promotion
of the great mergers of capital in in
trolling the trade of this country.
"The acknowledged object Of these
mergers is to stif1e competition in their
selling markets, and to open it wide into
the markets where they buy. High
prices for their products, low prices for
supplies and cheap labor, are the con-
ditions they seek. With this community
manifest that this jealous crusade of
the steamship lines is intentional. and
has behind it a far-seeing purpose, con-
celved and promoted by and in behalf
Of some at least of our great captains
g of industry
"In ali candor does it not look as
tho it was aimed with elaboration
the purpose of sitting labor combina.
tion and cheapening wages?S~
"We have erected national bar
rier against the products of other ma.
lions. We stoutly maintain and en-,
force our great system of American
and labor stand united for their avoweC
common welfare and advantage. Its
benefit to labor is secondary and indi
rect; its benefit to capital is primary
and immediate. The flood of immigrant
cheap labor, unrestricted, strikes direct
pit home labor. Capital must stand tt
It's share of the burden assumed in the
unite with labor to arrest and contro
immigration or confess bad faith an(
double dealing in it's advocacy Of pro
lection.
fThis phase Of the subject becomes
the more acute when we consider tha
the very protection barrier which W.
tnaintair for our industries, tends to in
tensify the force and pressure tha
draws immigration towards u.s.
Against the flood Of both foreig,
products and product makers, the CAPT
tai and labor of this country must stan
united; restriction Of both is demanded
and Of the two, the restriction Of in
than the restriction Of importation O
"The only other discernible cause
for the recent immigration are the OF
preston of the Jews and Poles, desc
tions from military service and geners
disturban in Russia. Social and p'
1itical unrest i'm Austria and Hungar,
municipal congestion and social ferme1i
in Italy, may also be operating to SON
extent to send forth the numbers fro
their population that are coming to u
Results and Dangers.
"The consequent results and imm
nent dangers involved in the prese1
status and the future continuance
this immigration can be but brief
enumerated and suggested:
"First-Its direct and princi pal e
feet is to cheaper labor. The INN
grant becomes competitor for Il
workingman 3 job, consumer of tt
substance available for him. The bu
den Of his support is added to the 10;
already resting too heavily upon t
be just to her own before she becom
generous to the alien The labor
needs no statistics, he needs no proclal
alton to know full well that the inco1
ing tide of immigration bears to hi
evil and not good. It stands at L
bench, sits at his table, devours /
substance.
Second-The national power of {
similating and digesting alien popu
ton is arrested and seriously menace
"Where formerly immigration soug
the agricultural sections of the cou
try and there quickly mixed among t
ranks Of our own people, the eommu1
contact with it's border life, wrong
quick chance and transformation tn
speedily Americanized the alien. No
the foreign tide flows into stagna
pools of kindred alien populations, re
idly gathering into dense. masses in
and American life scarcely penetrat
and there for years the immigrant
mains almost as foreign to Americ
influence and sentiment as when t
seas divided us. The volume of the
migration tends to this congestion a
the congestion arrests. assimilation. .
Native Birth Rate Decreasing.
Mr.. Hall then advanced the no,
conclusion that the tide Of inning
ton has reduced the birth rate amo
native Americans. He said:
s'The glaring fact stands out that
rate of births is decreasing; that
native stock is not normally multiply
itself. Nearly a century ago Maltl
laid down the rule which has been e
orally accepted, that population, uni
normal conditions, will double itself
every twenty-five years. We are f,
ing behind the world average.
There is partial explanation :