The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31

| ready noted, have been willing to ac-
cept the existing rates OF compensa-
ton and working conditions. The
thriftiness and industriousness of re-
| cent immigrants have also nude then,
| unwilling to enter into labor disputes
involving loss of time. nor to Join labor
/ organizations to which 1t was necessary
to pay regular duos.
| AS consequence. they have not
| affiliated with labor Organizations un-
less compelled to do SO as prelimi-
! nary step toward acquiring work. and
! then, after becoming members of tho
! labor union. they have manifested but
| little interest in the tenets or policy or
! the organization. In tho instances
where they have united with the labor
! organizations. on the occasion OF
strikes or labor dissensions. they have
| usually refused to maintain member
ship for any extended period OF time,
| thus rendering diihcuit tho unioniza-
ton of the industry or occupation in
which they are engaged.
Furthermore, the fact that recent
| immigrants ore usually of nom Eng
disappearing races and their high do
gree of illiteracy have made their abb
sorption by the labor organizations
very slow and expensive. In many
eases. too, tho conscious policy of the
employers Of mixing the races in diff
| labor In order. by diversity or
tongues. to prevent concerted action
on the part of their employee. has rem
dered the unionization OF the recent
Immigrant almost impossible.
, Racial Displacement ua Result of Inn
migrant Competition.
Competition OF the Southern and
, Eastern European has led to a volun-
tary or involuntary displacement in
certain occupations and industries Of
the native American and of the older
immigrant employees from Great Brit
ain and Northern Europe. Thes racial
displacemeRts have mHnlfcRIed them
selves In three ways:
large proportion OF native Ameri-
cans and older immigrant employees
from Great Britain and Northern
Europe have left certain Industries.
such as bltuminous and anthracite
coal mining and iron and steel manu-
featuring.
a part of the earlier employees who
remained In the Industries In which
they were employed before the advent
OF the Southern and Eastern European
have been able. because of the demand
growing out OF the general industrial
expansion, to rise TO more skilled
and responsible executive and technical
positions which require employees Of
training and experience. L. tho larger
number OF cases, however, whore the
olaer employees remained n n certain
industry after the pressure OF the
competition Of the recent immigrant
had begun to be felt, they relinquish-
ed their former positions and seYre-
gated themselves In certain other oc-
equations. This tendency is best illus
trated by the distribution OF employees
according to race in the bituminous
coal MINES.
In this Industry all tho so-called
company" occupations. which are
paid on The basis OF daily, weekly
or monthly rate. are filled by native
Americans or Older immigrants and
their children. while the Southern and
Eastern Europeans are confined to
pick mining and the unskiiled and
common labor. The game situation
exists In other branches OF manufac-
turing enterprise. 1t Is largely due
TO the stigma which has become at
tached to The working In the same
occupations AS the Southern and East
ern European that In acme cases. rs
In the bituminous coal-mining indus
try. has led to this segregation of the
older class OF employees In occupations
which, from the standpoint OF the COM
pensation. are less desirable than those
occupied by recent immigrants. In
most Industries the native American
and older immigrant workmen who
have remained in the aame occupa-
tions In which the recent immigrants
arc predoiant are the thriftless, I'M
progressive elements OF the original
operating forces.
Another striking feature OF the
competition of the Southern and East
ern Europeans Is the fact that In the
90 lnl,
and steel textile and glass manufac-
turing. and thi different forms OF
mining, the children of native Ameri-
cans and OF older immigrants from
Great Britain and Northern Europe
are not entering the industries in
which their fathers have been en-
ployed All classes OF manufacturers
claim that they are unable to secure
sufficient number OF native born en-
ployes to insure the development of
the necessary number of workmen to
hll the positions of skill and RESPONSE
biIity IN their establishments. This
condition OF affairs Is attributed to
three factors: "a General or techni-
cal education has enabled a consider
able number Of the children of indus
trial workers to command business,
professional or technical occupations
apparently moro desirable than those
OF their fathers. ca the conditions of
work which have resulted from the
employment of the recent immigrants
have rendered certain Industrial occu-
pations unattractive to the wage
Garner OF native birth. CD Occupa-
lions other than those in which South
ern and Eastern Europeans are en-
gagged are sought for the reason that
popular opinion attaches to them a
more satisfactory social status and
; higher degree of responsibility. What
, ever may be the cause Of this aver
sion Of older employees to working by
the side OF new arrivals. the existing
of the feeling has been crystallized
into one OF the most potent causes
OF racial substitution in manufacturing
and mining occupations.
Has Immigration Checked Increase In