The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-10

AND UNIONS
Oppose immigration and Appear
Before Congressional Committee
and Present Their Demands.

representing 2,OOO,0OO organized
wage-workers, and backed by the farm.
ers unions of America, with their 3,0oO,-
600 membership, the American Fedora.
tlon of Labor has re-opcned the fight in
Congress against unrestricted foreign i'm
migration.
Appearing before the Committee on
Immigration and Naturalization, Arthur
E. Holder, chairman Of the legislative
committee of the A. F.. of L., read reso-
luton after resolution drafted by conven-
tions of farmers and conventions of
trades unions showing unit in opposi-
tion to the enormous influx of immi-
grants.
That this attempt to restrict the flow
of foreign labor into the United States
will be fought at every step was made
plain by the bitter opposition of Repre-
sentative kusterman. of Wisconsin, who,
Immediately upon Holder IS conclusion of
stating that the American musician is
in nowise protected by the contract labor
law fairly ragged in his opposition to
trades unions.
The resolutions are an outrage bel
lowed the Congressman banker from Wis
consin, land, what 8 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 migration
to keep all artists out of this country so
that we may be diven crazy by the dis
cords of American bands2''
IF the gentleman is referring to the
Musicians Union, when he speaks of dis
cordant American bands, I shall inform
him that there are 10000 members in
that organization, tho 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
Holder s pointed reply.
Not all of the committee were of Kus-
terman IS way of thinking. Gardner, of
Massachusetts, was outspoken in his opir-
ion:
If they cannot come up to our stand
ard of 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 conjunc-
ton with Gardner, will in all probability
swing the vote of the committee in favor
of organized labor s demands in spite of
the bitter antagonism of Kusterman and
the covert, half-hearted opposition of
o O'Connell and Goldfogle.
The farmers position in relation to
i'm mi grafton caused much cross-examina-
tion of Holder by several of the Repre-
sentatives. They were particularly cur
ious as to the numerical strength of the
ward the American Federation of Labor.
Close attention was given to the union
man s statement that joint convention
of representatives from the Aemrican
l. ederation of Labor, the railroad broth
erhoods, and all the farmers unions
would be held in Chicago on March 6.
"The demands of organized labor,
concluded Mr.. Holder, care for COM
prehensive illteracy test, a money test,
and an increased head-tax. We are op-
posed to assisted immigration, except by
immediate members of the immigrant s
family, and reaffirm our position as to
the exclusion of japanese and Koreans
in addition to that of Chinese. -
Charges of a leak along the Mexican
border line brought quick demand from
Representative O'Conuell for proof, and
this phase of contraband immigration
will be Investigated at the next session
| of the committee.