The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-22

those parts Of the petition heretofore
presented to the President, under tie
of January S. 1870
Legal Points at Issue.
we briefly called your attention to
the legal phases and Importance given
by the courts to the dangers resulting
directly to labor from abuses If large
corporate agsregstions are permitted to
violate the laws Of competition. They
expressly refer 10 the effect il has al
ready had in cases under their con
sideration in destroying the vocation Of
many skilled laborers or in reducing
their wages: n the danger Of increasing
their hours Of labor; 20 the effect upon
their sanitary conditions; 10 their fore
ing wages TO the point where the child
rem of families are compelled 20 labor.
and even 20 compel the wives Of the
laboreTs to do manual labor. and then
draw the conclusion that all Of these
resulting effects are absolutely inJu-
rious to the existence Of the republic.
Even these phases or results in some
form OF other have recently been ad-
verted to in the courts observations
on the evil effects of monopoly, and we
think Il not out Of place therefore, to
furnish. you with "A brief resume Of the
evil results In this case
Employment of Foreigners.
The United States Steel Corporation
employs 22S.O0O employees. II we are 10
take its own reports and advertisements
for employees. we can safety say there
| Is very large per cent made up OF
Polacks. Hungarians. Ruumanians. and
Slavs. So far as we have investigated
there seems to be a preference given 10
foreigners.
1t has been the policy 20 fence in its
| factories and manufaCturing plants by
| high board fences SurmOunted Win
| barJed wire. making Impossible dp-
proach for any purpose. except through
the gates and doors. which are also IN
/ charge % uniformed officers
/ What is said OF IFS Wanuiactur hS
plants, perhaps, $ universally true of
! its hospitals in it's more recently estab-
/ lished works. This, no doubt, IS It's m
| herent right 10 DO. but we beg leave 20
call the attention Of the Government 20
| the resultant effect OF these methods up
| on citizenship
! Its employees are frequently herded
/ together in large nun beTs, as is now
/ the case In Gary, Ind. In undesirable
tenement houses.
Coercion Is Charged.
! "The corporation policy Of prevent
| ing any labor organizer comminglinl
with. associatinE with. or addressing
meetings where any Of Its employees ar,
permitted 10 attend is very marked II
West Virginia.
This method of training its employees
! especially foreigners. keeps them I'm Is
lnOrance of their rights Of citizenship au'
prevents them from amalEamatuE an'
mixing and becoming a part OF our re
publican form of Government.
When men are injured they are de
! prived frequently or the use Of Tn
courts by being taken from one guard
ed factory to another department. 10
wit, the hospital There they are force
| TO sign their settlements. or are carrie
out dead. II the injury happens 10 b
! fatal, without having Jny COnfereuC
with their own friends. families or al
ship with the local institutions poliu
! cally and civilly In the sense that organ
, lied labor has heretofore enjoyed
Effect on Citizenship.
These rights are claimed by virtue O
the corporations great power and az
greEatiOn Of capital. and its right {
contract with labor. which, standing o.
the strict letter Of the law, may n
true, and yet we call the attention o
this Department TO the injurious efec
Il has upon citizenship thus 10 proven
: these labOrers from entering into IN
Z spirit Of our institutions and herdin
e them like the Russians in the Siberia
, mines.
Z 1T has been and Is the policy Of III
( organized labor movement TO fight a
2 these secret orders and bodies that ar
1 dislOyal TO our Government The polio
, adopted by the United States Steel Cor
, poration breeds despair when men fin
q they have no voice IN government. an
: no voice IN their contracts, and ar