The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-03-05

- Washing LON, -. u, MaTcn 4.-Rep.
resenting 100000 organized wage .
workers, and backed by the farmers
unions of America, with their three
million membership, the American
Federation Of Labor has reopened the
fight in congress against unrestricted
foreign immigration szz5 - s
+: Appearing before the committee on
immigration and naturalization. Art
thur E. Holder, chairman Of the legis-
latiye committee of the American f
Federation of Labor, read resolution
after resolution drafted by 4conven- 3
.tions of farmers and CONVENTIONS OF i
trades unions, showing aunit in oppo-
sition to the, enormous influx Of immi-
That this attempt to restrict the
flow; Of foreign labor. into the United
Statfs will be fought at every step,
was{ made plain by the bitter opposi-ss
ton of Representative Kusterman,
from Wisconsin,, who, immediately I
upon Holders conclusion of resolu-.
ton from the Musicians' Union stat
ing that ''the American musician is
in nowise protected by the contract
labor law fairly ragged in his oppo-
sition to trades unions. IL =
Badger State Banker Hostile.
"The resolutions are an outrage"
from Wisconsin, :.and, what's more,
they are an eye-opener as to all the
other demands that your unions are
| making. Do you mean to ask the
committee on immigration to keep all
| artists out Of this country so that
we may be driven crazy by the dis
j cords of American bands?" .=5Ez 3
! IF the gentleman is referring to
the Musicians Union, when he speaks
of discordant American bands, I shall
inform him that there are $4,000
| members in that organization, the
best musical talent in the United
States, and that they are fighting for
| their bread and butter when they
oppose the unrestricted entrance to
| this country of cheap musicians who
slip in under the guise of artists,
was Holders pointed reply.
| Not all of the committee were of
Kusterman's way of thinking. Gardner
I CT Massachusetts was outspoken in his
opinion; IT they cannot come UP TO:
our standard Sof living, should prefer
that they would not come at all -
Burnett from alabama, and Hayes
from California, were alike in favor Of
! restricted Immigration, and, in con
junction with Gardner, will In all
probability swing the vote OF the COM
mittee In favor of organized labor's
demands in spite of the bitter antag-
onism of Kusterman and the covert
haH-hearted opposition Of O'Cpnnel1
i and QGoldfogle. - !
! Are Curious About Farmers. I,
The farmers position i'm relation to
immigration caused much cross-exam-
lnAtion Of Holder by several of the
| representatives. They were partic-
ularly' curious as to the numerical
strength of the farmers unions and
their relations toward the American
Federation of Labor. Close attention
was given to the union mans state
ment that a Joint convention of rep
resentatives from the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, the railroad brother
hoods, and all the farmers unions
would be held in Chicago on March s.
T. 1.-THE demands of organized labor"
concluded Mr.. H older, "are for COM
prehensive illiteracy test, money test
and an increased head-tax. We are OPP
! posed to assisted immigration, except
! by immediate members of the immi-
grants family, and reaffrm our posl~
4 ton as to- the exclusion of Japanese
and Koreans In addition to that Of,
Chinese" ~ -~ivf SIT e. 7s5= -. 5. 5s:5ss
Charges Of leak along the Mexi-5
can border line brought quick de-
mand from Representative O'Connen
for proof, and this phase Of contra.
| band immigration will be investigated
/ at the next session of the committee.