The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-18

pAOySI VI 1dOOAs WV CSASA ANSOI6 wiz
use large numbers of men, stated that
the successful working out of the COL
onixation idea would have only bene-
hcial effect upon the industrial world.
They admitted that it would take a
great number of men and boys from
the cities, but declared that enough
would remain to meet all requirements
in manufacturing, building and opera
ton of every industry, plant and trans
portation enterprise. They also are Of
the opinion that shortage of labor
in times of great activity is not nearly
as serious problem as the unemployed
surplus in dull seasons. Again, they
pointed out, that the curtailed num-
bers would mean a steadier and better
prosperity, as the available hands
would always be busy to meet present
demands, which would preclude over
production at particular period, with
its disastrous effect later.
The supply for railroad construction
does not enter into the count at ALL
for it is drawn from the old world
and comes and goes with the demand.
when / saw laboring men swarm
ing from the large factories like bees
from hive. having nothing before
them but this same incessant grind
in which their wages are eaten up
week by week as rapidly as earned,
then it was that l conceived the idea
of providing condition in life for
them where they might hope to save
a little and to provide an independent
future for their children" said Bishop
McGolrick, discussing his project Of
opening up 10000 acres of land for
the poor but worthy classes of people
who are handicapped by conditions in
the larger cities.
The bishop dared not estimate the
number of families in the crowded
cities Of the nation and in the smaller
towns where large factories employ
thousands of men, who now are OBJ
tanning hand to mouth existence,
and not through lack of thrift on the
part Of the members of the families.
but through American labor conditions.
which in many parts of the country
forbid workingman from becoming
Independent. There are thousands Of
such families. said the bishop, many
OF them emigrants, and they need only
the assistance that the opportunity to
get good farming land cheaply Will
give them to become well-to-do and
valuable citizens of the United States.
Now they are in the congested dis
tricts Of the larger cities or in huddled
settlements that have sprung up
around some of the large factories in
the cities Of moderate size. The wages
of the men for week. be the fam
lilies ever SO frugal. quickly vanish
In the purchase of food ana clothiax
and other bare necessities of life. The
children, because of these conditions,
Join their fathers in the factory as soon
as they are old enough to secure
position. And this way 1t has xono
and will go from generation to genera.
ton. Nothing brighter is in store for
the young people coming into citizen
ship than for their parents before
them.
The bishop has been keenly touched
by the difficulties with which rnanv OF
the nations workers have to contend.
He has studied the conditions at first
hand. visiting the manufacturing dis
tricts Of the east and of the middle
west. Minnesota, itself, is far from
free from undesirable labor conditions
and it is the hope Of the bishop that
many families living in Duluth MIA
avail themselves Of the rare opportun.
ity Of lettering themselves by beoom'.
Ing owners of land in 1.-The garden
spot Of Minnesota" where his colonies
are to be planted.
In the big factories Of Boston, New
York and Buffalo, Bishop Mcaolrick
furthering former colonization plans
has talked personally with the labor.
ers in the endeavor to get ther1 inter-
ested in making themselves independ-
ent and in position to give the;,
children educational advantages. In
his conversation he has run across in
stances Of amusing ignorance of the
sort OF state Minnesota is. Many hest.
tated about changing their occupation
and residence because they believed
Minnesota a land of almost arctic
coldness. They couldn't think of ieay.
ing New York Or Boston for the frig-
idity Of the Gopher state. Others were
afraid Of the Indians, who, they UNI
derstood, were in the habit OF swoop
Ing down upon the settlers, driving
off their cattle and other live stock
not to mention the scalpinr of ths