The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
SOLVING GREAT
LABOR PROBLEMS
Continued From Flry. page,

|
| constrained mainly by their economic
interest. and moving readily from place
TO place according to chungen in work
ing conditions or fluctuations in the
demand tor labor.
rractabiiity Of the Immigrant.
To tho above-described characteris-
tics or recent immigrant wage-onrners
should be added one other The MEM
| oers of the larger number OF races of
recent entrance to the mines, mills
and factories have boon tractable and
easily managed. This quality seems
70 h1 tempernmental one, acquired
through past conditions OF life In their
native lands. In the normal life of the
MINES mills and factories, the South
ern and Eastern Europeans have ex-
hioited pronounced tendency toward
being easily managed by employers and
toward being imposed upon without
protest. which has created tho i'm
preston of subservIency This char
acteristic, while strong, Is confined.
however, to tho Immigrant wage.
earners Of comparatively short resi-
aence In this country, and results from
their lack of training and experience
abroad. and from the difference he
tween their standards and aspirations
and those of older Immigrant employees
ana native American Industrial work.
crs.
II the characteristics OF tho recent
Immigrant labor supply to the IJnited
states. as outlined above. be carefully
borne in mind. tho conditions which
nave been produced by their employ
nent may be quickly realized.
AS regards the general Industrial
effects, 1t may be said, in the FIRST
place. that the lack of skill and lndus-
rial training OF the recent Immigrant
20 the United States has stimulated ,ha
invention OF mechanical methods and
processes which might be conducted
oy unskilled workers as d substitute
or the skilled operatives formerly re-
lulred. large number Of illustrn-
lons OF this tendency might be cited
'robaoiy three of the best. however.
ire the automatic looms and ring
ipinGles in the cotton goods manufac-
curing Industry, the bottle blowing and
:astins machines in bottle and other
glass factories. and the machines for
mining coal.
Cnsntinfnctory Conditions of Employ
ment.
aelatiVe to the effect OF recent immi-
grafton upon native American and
)ider Immigrant wage-earnerH In the
.hited states, II MAY be stated in the
lrst place, that the lack OF industrial
raining and experience of recent i'm
migrants before coming to the United
states. together with his iliiteracy ana
inability 10 speak English. has had the
effect OF exposing the original employe
TO unsafe and unsanitary working con-
dltions, or has led to the imposition of
conditions of employment which the
native American or older Immigrant
employees have considered unsatistac-
tory and In some cases unbearuble
When the Older employes have found
dangerous and unhealthy conditions
prevailing In the mines and manufuc-
turing establishments, and have pro-
tested, the recent immigrant employees
usually through ignorance OF mining
or other working methods, have mani.
festod a Willingness to accept the al
leSed unsatisfactory conditions. In
largo number of cases the lack of
training and experience OF the South
ern and Eastern European affects only
MS own safety. On the other hand,
his ignorant acquiescence in DANGEROUS
nnd unsanitary working conditions may
make the continuance of such condi-
lions possible and become q menace TO
a part or tho whole of IN opera ting
force OF an Industrial este hli shment
IN mining, tho presence OF an unframed
empoye may constitute an element OF
danger to the entire body of workmen,
ihere seems to DO a direct causal rela-
uon between tho extensive employment
OF recent immigrants In American m mes
and the extraordinary increase within
recent years in the number of mining
accidents. 1t Is an undsputed fact
that tho greatest number of accidents
IN bituminous coal mines arise from
Two ccusos-U) the recklessness and
ca the Ignorance and the inexperlence
or employees. When the lack of train
ing OF the recent immigrant abroad Is
- & In n H..
that he becomes workman In the
mines Immediately upon his arrival In
this country, and when It Is recalled
mat large proportion OF the new ar.
rivals are not only illiterate and unab BILE
/ TO speak English. and consequently
without ability TO comprehend inslruc-
lions lnteliGently, the inference is
plain that direct causal relation ex-
lists between the employment of recent
immigrants and tho increase In tho
! number of accidents and fatalities. No
complete statistics have been compiled
as 10 the connection between accidents
end the races employed, but the figures
available clearly Indicate the conclusion
that there has been q direct relation
between the employment of unframed
foreigners and the prevalence OF min
ms casualties. The mining inspectors
OF tho several coal producing States.
the United States Geological Survey and
the older employees also bear testimony
In this respect to the effect OF the
employment Of the Southern and East
ern European. The opinion of the Co
oiosical Survey is of especial interest.
and may be briefly quoted:
Another important factor In the
United States is to be found in the ma
, tlonality of the miners. Most OF tho
men are foreign born. large proper
ton of them arc unable to understand
English freely. and a still larger num-
Der are unable to read or write that
Language. Some of them are ineXpe-
rienced and do not take proper pre-
cautions either for their own safety o.
That Of others. This becomes a mos,
serious menace unless they ARD re-
strained by properly enforced regula-
tions.
The Immigrant nnd LnbSr Orgnutzn-