The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-25
TALK ABOUT IKMERAFlON.
CIVIC FEDERATION CAN'T DE-
Is eide ON RESTRICTION.

suD-Committees WIN Lock Int AFFAIR ana
Report On tho AdVtssbilIty er Limiting
mnux Of Foreigner -LAD0r ObJeets 70
Present system ~ InimIcal 20 workers.
The immigration dcpartms Mt Of the
National Civic Federation held q special
meeting yesterday In the Park Avenue
Hotel 70 consider the subject OF the destr-
ability Of the restriction OF immigration
In view Of the fact that there 10 a Senabs
bill providing for restriction OF immigra-
ton. The immigration department Of the
federation after investigating the subject
thoroughly will make such reCommends-
tons az may be thought necessary to the
committee which will be in charge Of the
bill.
Franklin MacVeagh. chairman Of the
immigration department. presided and
about 100 business men. college professors,
labor leaders and others attended. Prescott
F. Hall, secretary Of the National Immigra-
ton Restriction League, read portions Of
the bill and spoke In favor Of restriction OF
immigration.
Nathan Blur Of the United Hebrew
Charities said no could SEQ no good reason
for changing the policy Of tho Government
as TO immigration. He said the country
had prospered under the present conditions
and the prosperity had been shared by the
wage earners.
Alter acme Of the delegates had spoken
on restriction OF immigration, ID. ID. Allen
Of Kentucky took The floor;
Il do not believe" he said. that We have
got TO the point where We do not want any
further immigration. Labor 10 at Q pre-
MUM in Kentucky, Alabama and other
Southern States. 1 believe the United
QAatoa onplA do Wtfh 4 000 000 dAAIFn OI0
immigrants a year.
Alabor delegate asked him 10 define what
a desirable immigrant was. de sald ne
meant every able bodied man or woman OF
good character and intelligence whether
In possession of SIS or not.
John Mitchell, president Of the United
Mine Workers, took exception 70 the argu-
ments against interfering with the present
order Of things.
said, there must be something to improve
when o O.Oo0 mine workers in these years OF
unprecedented business prosperity. are
permitted to work only 700 days In the
year in the collieries when they are willing
to work 800 days. How long will they be
allowed to work when there In industrial
depression? There should be some educa-
tional qualification and a immigrant
should nave enough none to keep him until
he finds as profitable work al he can. To
take the first work at hand Ia TO take another
man . JOpt as u Tule.
james O'Connell Of the International
Association OF Machinists said that the
conditions OF labor were gagged by the
number OF immigrants admitted. I'm
restricted immigration. he said. meant the
bringing down Of wages. He talked OF the
employment OF child labor and women In
the factories and mines.
A woman delegate took him up at this
point and asked him where women were
employed in mines in this country. He took
that part of his statement back and said
he had made q mistake.
In reply to a number OF questions Mr..
Blur said he had no positive opinions on
the question Of immigration.
1T 10 up to the opponents OF immigration,
he continued. TO show that thore should
be any change in the present system. In
my opinion This has not been shown In
spite OF the development Of machinery
and increasing immigration wages have
gone on increasing and the condition Of the
workers improving. Mr.. Mitchell has not
said that the reason for the miners work.
ing 200 days In the year was caused by Inn
migration
Another speaker aid that most Of the
workers were not immigrants themselves.
and also some Of the m~illionAires were
descended from immigrants vino came
here with little or no money.
No resolutions were proposed. but after
the meeting various sub-committe08 mot
in executive session and will make reports
later. President Gompers Of the American
Federation Of Labor did not take part in
the discussion.