New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
TO CURE PE0NAGE.
Woman assistant attorney General
ReI;eUes She Has Devised Remedy.
From the Tribune Bureau. J

from the Tribune Bureau.1
Washington. Feb. s.-Mrs Mary Grace Ouackeh-
bos of New York special Assistant Attorney Gen
eraI in the Department of Justice TO investsa'e
and prepare the cases In the peonage prosecutions
in the Southern States has devised method which
she believes will prevent further occurrences OF
that character Will furnish labor In those secuons
of the country where ii is most needed and avoid
the congestion of immigrants in the large cities
Mrs. Quackenbos. who has long been engaged IN
settlement work and was thoroughly familiar with
conditions in the tenement sections OF the larger
cities before she undertook her 1nvestigations N
the South, is convinced that there should be CO.
operative work by the employers of labor, the
rail and ocean carriers, the federal government
and the local representatives of foreign govern
ments to insure useful labor for employers ana
profitable employment and a proper environment
for the immigrant, so that the reports he SENDS
home from this country will be such as TO insure
additional immigration of the better class
Hitherto" said Mrs. Quackenbos to-day, there
has been complete failure TO attack the problem
the basis Of cooperation Of all the interests n
voIved. Ny own attention conditions In the
South first attracted through my work on the
East Side in the protection of immigrants against
the vicious practices of unscrupulous labor agents
Since then have 10 learn and TO believe that
the South offers splendid field the peasant CT
Southeastern Europe. and desire to do all in my
power to help the people Of the South to secure
the labor they need. because at the same time we
shall help to diminish of the evils Of the
congested tenement districts of New York and other
Northern cities. There must be cooperation to
obtain such end. and the expernce OF the last
year two has given idea for organized
effort in this direction I would much rather pre-
vent peonage than punish it, and believe that il
the Southern pople Will at the problem intelli-
gently and in a liberal frame of mind they will
solve it TO their satisfaction, while the coun-
try at large will be the gamer through the radical
betterment in the condition Of new foreign citi-
zens'
What is your plan for obtaining such co-opera-
tion?' was asked
In the first place" said Mrs ouackenbos. II be-
heve an association could be created which would
be purely voluntary. and would represent all inter
ests involved For that I would 90 outside
OF the government although the active sympathy
and cooperation Of the country would be indis-
pensable- 1 have not formulated the details. but I
believe an organization could be formed which
would represent, first. the employer including
planters, millers lumbermen. miners and all other
industrial promoters Secondly, would represent
the foreigners themselves b. inviting the active
association OF their consuls general other of-
GERS designated for the purpose by their ambassa
dOrs ministers. ! would invite representation
the part of the railroad companies in this country
and the steamship lines the There |
should be a representative of some great labor |
body. like the American Federation of Labor, and |
then there should be. ex-offcio. government rep
resentative. the Secretary of Commerce and Labor
the Commissioner of Immigration the Superin- /
tendent of the Distribution Bureau
With organization made up of representa- |
tives of the elements interested. 1t would De
paratively easy matter to select labor advocate /
or general agent arbitrator. whatever you !
might please 10 call him The manufacturer, the /
planter, the lumberman and the miner could then l
file their applications for labor in central bureau
The conditions OF life and OF employment could be /
investigated in advance. and subsequently, the labor
could be distributed fair basis among the peo-
pie forming the association I would protect the
immigrant by guaranteeing to him a decent nveIi-
hood would protect the employer by furnishing
him the best grade of labor and by protecting him
against the fraud and the swindIer who would seek
ganization could refuse supply labor unless the
conditions were right and it could protect the
pioyer against the repeaters. the FOUNDERS and the
industrial bounty jumpers
If properly managed. such an organization
after a while would command the confidence Of
the employer and OF the immigrants themselves. |
II would be unnecessary 10 rake over Europe for /
labor supply. The immigrants would soon |
learn that such a bureau had their best interests
at heart and that it would personally investigate
every application for labor before filling 1t. 1t /
should be understood that this is immigration
question and labor question. except Incl
dentally The immigrants continue TO come here
whether want them not. The problem is 10 |
place them where # will be best for them and be
best for the country. After they become 'accli-
mated. 50 to speak they can LOOK out for them |
selves There must be kindergarten period for /
every immigrant while he Is learning English /
and acquiring the customs OF a new country. Ole |
employer in Mississippi North Carolina may be |
angel of light and mercy; his nextdoor neigh
Dor may be hend. There ought some
body 70 protect the immigrant until he Is able !
to protect himself One immigrant willing 10 /
work If given ! fair chance; another is z Ioafer /
and is looking only for 4 place where he can I
make money without work. The employer ought |
to be protected against this latter class. The |
honest employer should be made suffer |
for the bad reputation fastened on him by the |
dishonest laborer-
Il honestly believe that such organization /
as have outlined is entirely practical 1t would 1
be Joint labor bureau and X could be supported.
! think, by voluntary contributions. but more |
particularly by a system Of fees for services
dered which would make IL In the long dis |
tinct business proposition The people OF the |
South in particular need some srch thing this |
the scope OF this international and Interstate
labor movement is such that 1t could be adapted
Just as well 20 Kansas North Dakota to |
Alabama Florida"
KANSAS DEMURRAGE LAW UPHELD.
Topeka Kan, Feb. Sin the case OF ". " Pat |
terson against the Missouri Pacific Railway tho