The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
Conditions in Northern
andWesternStates Fur
nish Object Lessons.
INSPECTION LAWS
ARE RESTRICTIVE
Many Things to Be Considered.
Low Standards of Living-The
Immigrant and the Labor
Observation-Disclosures
Competition-Outlook
for the South.

Undue importance has been placed In
the discussions OF recent years upon the
social and political effects of immlgra-
.ion. Persons who have had little data
N their possession. beyond some lin
:ted Local studies, have stated that the
recent allen Influx has been responsible
:or an increase Of crime. vice. insanity
and pauperism. Tho results or the en-
aaustivc investigation or the National
immigration Commission. Involving an
expenditure OF si50.oO0, and covering a
Ieriod OF three years. do not Justify
these contentious. Crime among the
-'ccent immigrants has not been out o;
proportion TO the adult male popula-
:ton. Furthermore. our inspection laws
nave been effective III dcbarriug insane
and dependent aliens. Despite thia IA
-orable condition OF affairs however,
ana for an entirely different reason.
The Nationai immigration Commission
mas tmphaticaily and unequivocaily REC
omncnued q restriction OF inning "a ;ion.
Tho real Significance OF recent imni
grafton has been found to be econoEiic
or industrial. rather than social or po-
litical, and tho Immigration Commas
sion. after three years OF study. has
Dccn led TO advocate Il restriction OF
immigration because of tho disastrous
effect upon tho American wage-carners
OF the competition Of the Southern and
employment in such large numbers IN
our mines and factories. The indus
trial conditions which prevail In the
Western and Northern States are prac-
tically unknown In the South, because
OF the small! extent TO which the recent
immigrant has found a Judgment IN
mines and manufacturing establish
mcnts. Tho extraordinary Industrial
development OF the Southern states.
however. which has already brought
into play q demand for labor which
has outrun the local supply, renders
IL e&pedient to look into conditIohs
elsewhere before selecting our own
working forces. With this in mind,
most instructive object lesson is fur
nishcd by conditions In other parts OIL
the country.
These effects Of the extensive en-
ploymcnt OF Southern and Eastern Eu-
roDeans may be briefly considered from
10 tho standpoint OF the general in
dustrial situation and to from that Of
native Americans and older worEmcn
in industries Before entering into a
discussion OF these effects. however, 1t
Will he necessary, in order that tho
situation may be fully coInprehendei,
10 review briefly the personal and In
dustr!al qualities of the recent imm.-
grant labor supply to the United States.
These are briefly set forth below.
Lack of TecbnicnI TRIMMING.
One OF the facts OF greatest import
has been that an eXcecdingly small
proportion have had any training
abroad for the Industrial occupatio
in which they have found employ mert
In the United States Most recent i'm
migrants have been drawn from the
agricultural classes OF Southern and
Eastern Europe. having been farmers
or farm laborcrs or other unskiiled
laborers In their native lands. The
only exception Is the Hebrews. three
iiIths OF whom were engaged in scme
form Of manufacturing or hand trades
before coming to this country.
The new Immigrant. la Dor supply, ow-
ing to the fact that IL is composed OF
men OF non English speaking races and
is characterized by high degree OF
iliiteracy, has been found to possess
but small resources upon which to de-
vclop industrial efficiency and advance
ment. Owing TO their segregation und
isolation from the native American
population in living and working con-
ditions. their progress in acquiring the
use OF the English language and in
learning to read and write has been
very slow.
Another salient fact in connection
with the recent immigrant labor supply
has been tho necessitous condition of
the newcomers upon their arrival In
American industrial communities. I'm
migrants from the South and East of
Europe have usually had but few dol
lars in their possession when their final
destination in this country had been
reached During the past eight years
the average amount per person among
these immigrants has been about one
third rs much as among immigrants
from Northern and Western Europe.
Consequently. tinding 1t absolutely i'm
peratiVe TO engage In work at once,
they have not been In position TO take
exception to wages or working condi-
lions, but must obtain employment on
the terms offered.
Low Standards of Living.
The standards Of living of the re-
cent industrial worker from the
south and east OF Europe have also
been very low. Moreover, the recent
immigrants being usually single. or.
If married. having left their wives
abroad. have in largo measure adopted
II group instead of a family living ar
rangement, and thereby have reduced
their cost OF living to point far
below that Of the American or of the
older Immigrant IN the same indus
try. The method of living often fol-
lowed Is that commonly known as the
"hoarding-boss" system, under which
the entire outlay for necessary living
expenses of zach adult ranges be-
tween 50 and SIS zach month.
Another salient characteristic of re-
cent Immigrants who have sought work
Z In American industries has been tha.
rs whole. they have manifested but n
small degree OF permanent interest in
their employment or In the industry.
they h'Vo constituted n mobile, migra-
4 tory and disturbing wase- earning class
1---".- fftnnt II,