The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-12-27
Do Not Coincide With Those
of Solicitor Earle.
ON IMMIGRATION MATTER
Head of Labor Intimates That De.
cislon In South Carolina Case
Will Be Tested in the
Courts.

American Federation Of Labor, disa-
grees entirely with the deducticns,
and is very frank in his opposition to
the report of Solicitor Earle OF the.
department of commerce and labor,
en- the subject Of the violation Of the
alien contract labor law by the impor-
tation Of immigrants into South Caro-
lima. The department held that the
people of South Carolina in bringing
ever the Wittekind immigrants had
not violated the law.
When seen by representative OF
The Atlanta Constitution In Washing.
ton Friday and asked whether he or
the American Federation Of Labor
would make test Of the decision In
the courts, Mr.. Gompers was silent.
"The legal advisers of the depart
ment of commerce and labor have con-
strued the law, and their construction
will have to stand until the courts:
reverse it." he seid. Continuing, Mr.
Gompers declared:
''It has been held by the courts and
by the department that any promise.
of employment or promise to an alien
that he can secure employment in
America Is a contract. It seems to:
me very convenient construction Of,
the law to say that a state official
can do what a private citizen Is In.
hibited from doing"
The charge contained In some,
southern newspapers that Mr. Gom.:
pers had raised the question: OF ille.,
gality in connection with these pro-
ceedings denied by him. He said
some of the boys must have called
the departments attention to the mat
ter, and asked that 1t be inyesti-
gated. ~ 5sss:
Mr.. Gompers was very emphatic In
his statement that he had no wish,
to obstruct immigration to the south.
for, he declared. that he would Hike
to see many of the immigrants that
crowd into the large cities Of the
north, diverted to the south, as hes
was convinced that immigration. prop
erly conducted, would vastly benefit
the south. q would be happy to see;
the south continue to prosper" he af.ss
firmed. rs
The only thing he could suggest to-
secure southern immigrants was the
employment of men at Ellis Island
to work on the newcomers upon their
disembarking from the immigrant
ships. s.
He thought the chief difficulty about
inducing immigration to the south
was the low wages peid In the south
ern states. He was very emphatic on
his ground, declaring: 8:
IT know labor. is short in the south,
and personally would Ike to see Il
otherwise. The south is beautiful
country, a splendid section to llye5
IN, and the prospects there for man
on comfortable living wages are
bright. How can you expect to get
common laborers at 20 and 80 cents
day, however, when the same class
of labor can earn $1.50 per day IN
the north? Skilled laborers In the
south draw higher wages Of course.
The union is responsible for that, be-
cause it adheres to strict wage
scale. The unskilled laborer, though,
fares rather badly, and this class OF
immigrants will be hard to secure for
the south. In New York city street
sweepers and hod carriers earn 81
a day. This being true, It Is perfectly
clear that the inducements now offer
ed by the south are not alluring If
sufficient wages were offered, the sto-.
ry would be an entirely different
one"
In personal appearance Samuel
Gcmpers Is a short, thick-set man,
with a smooth, round face, much OF
(which is covered by big spectacles.
->-,, ~u&, a-rn rue aAxn