The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-14
Labor of Southern Europe Gets
Out Kansas Coal.
North Italians Outnumber All
Other Foreign Workers.
EARNINGS GREATER.
Can't Talk English But Italians
"Geta Da MOn."
Half of Them Own Homes in
Which They Live.

The southern and eastern Europe I'M
migrants have migrated from Pennsyl-
yania to the mining areas OF Kansas
within recent years and are now COM
ing directly from Europe to the mines
Of the southwest. There were several
strikes in the mines of the southwest
from 1890 to 1895, and the places OF
many of the striking employees were
filled by negroes. Within the last ten
years the natives employees, the older
immigrants and the negroes have been
gradually displaced by Immigrants
from southern Europe.
AS a result of a recent investigation
by the United States immigration COM
mission detailed information was Sc
cured relative to over seven thousand
mine employees and four hundred and
seventy-six households of mine workers
in Kansas and Oklahoma. OF the seven
thousand thirty-six employees studied
so per cent were foreign born; IL per
cent were native born of foreign born
father or immigrants of the second gen
Grafton; per cent were negroes and
% per cent were native born Amer1-
cans. The number of North Italians far
exceed the number of any other imml-
grant people, II per cent of all en-
ployees being of that race. The second
highest proportion of any foreign race
was shown by the south Italians. Only
one hundred and fourteen of the en-
ployees studied were foreign born Mex
leans.
More than three-fifths of the foreign
born employees had been in the United
States less than ten years, and one
third less than five years. A very large
percentage of all employees of races
other than English, German, Irish and
Scotch are recent arrivals.
A much larger proportion of 1mrni-
NJ 1Y1InUeaG in fha southwest than
in the bituminous mines of either Penn
sylvania or the middle west had had
experience in mining before coming to
the United States. Forty-three per cent
had had mining experience abroad, the
lowest per cent shown for any race be-
ing per cent for the south Italians.
One-Third Can Not Speak English
About one-third of the foreign-born
employees of nonEnglish speaking
races were unable to speak English. OF
the north Italians, SO per cent could noI
speak English; of the Polish and the
Slovaks 80 per cent. OF all foreign-born
employees, 81 per cent were able to
read. The lowest per cent of literacy
was for the Russians, with a per cent
able to read, and the second lowest the
Mexicans, with 81 per cent able to read.
The earnings for employees Is years
of age or over averaged $2.6f per day.
The immigrant employees averaged
$3.50 per day and the native Americans
$3.50 per day. While daily earnings
were comparatively hight large
amount Of time was lost which, Of
course, had a serious effect upon the
earnings for the year.
Outside employment for women was
not available but in II per cent of the
households of the miners, boarders or
dodgers were kept as a means of sup
plementing the family income. Among
the immigrant households 20 per cent
had boarders or dodgers.
OF the families studied about one-half
owned their homes. Among the foreign
born So per cent, while among native
white Americans only 80 per cent owned
their homes. Every European race
showed larger per cent of home own
ers than the native white American
mine worker.
Political interest among the foreign
born appears to be about the same as
among the mine employees of the mid
die west, and considerably more pro-
nounced than among the mine en-
ployees of western Pennsylvania. OF
the immigrants who had been in the
United States a sufficient length of
time to become citizens, 81 per cent
were fully naturalized, As per cent had
secured first naturalization papers, and
"a per cent had taken no steps toward
becoming citizens. The races from
southern and eastern Europe show
more civic interest in the southwest
than in other mining sections.