The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-04
CONTRACT LABOR AND SOUTHERN
DEVELOPMENTS

For more than twenty years it has
been the policy % our ppvcrnmnut TO
exclude from this country all immi-
grants who have made ARRANGEMENTS
10 secure work. or who have been
promised employment upon their ar
rival. If an employer in this country
wishes 20 secure a certain number of
skilled workmon. lie must. under the
provisions of the law. advertise en-
tensivciy, ami is then permitted To inn
port men from abroad only when he
can prove that his demand for labor
cannot be satisfied from the domestic
supply
This law had its origin in the de-
Termination TO protect American wage
earners against the competition cf the
alien who might have lower stand
ard of living, ana consequently be will
ing to work for a smaller wage. or un-
;der less favorable conditions, than the
native American The labor orEaniza-
itions of the country have always been
vislant in securing an enforcement of
the law and in prosecuting any infrac-
tions of it. They have contended that
Skilled worllmeu in any trade, with
out the Intervention of the law. :.lght
enter the country and compete with
them for their positions In other
words, the law has been an attempted
protective policy directed against la
Dor in tho same way that protective
tariff is put in force against commodi-
ties.
American workmen in general and
trade unionists in particular have made
one very serious mistake in their at
titude. In years past they have failed
to take into account, and even at the
present time do not realize, that the
unskilled Immigrant has been a potcn-
tial competitor, and under existing
conditions of mining and manufacture
ing soon becomes an active one
The alien contract labor law in its
operation, while 1t has decreased the
number OF skilled immigrants entering
the country, has practically had no ef-
feet on the unskilled workers. The
Skilled artisan or industrial worker OF
Great Britain or Europe VIII not I'M
migrate to the United States with, ut
the assurance of having a place open
az 444iI upon IIlS az NV AL - ~ CbHSC-
quencc, American manufacturers, he
ing afraid to make any promise on ac-
count of the penalties involved, have
adopted other measures TO Insure the
operation OF their establishments.
Partly for this reason. ana partly be-
cause they cannot compete vita the
low standards of Southern o. Eastern
,I.nrDppapS Ia a,
industrial workers and the skilled ar
tisans from Great Britain ana North
iern Europe have, during the past TWEEN.
ny years ceased coming TO the United
States. on the other hand, the farm
'ors or farm laborers from the south
and cast of Europe who have little,
III any, industrial training or skill. dur
Ing the pas'.t%entg years have entered
the United Stittis in constantly incrcas-
ting numbers, ana have found an eXtcn-
sive lodgment IN the operating; forces
OF our mines and factories on nc-
count Of their lack OF training ard
low standards Of liyiag, they have dis
placed the native American ana older
Immigrant workmen; have Aigrupted
and demora!ized labor organizations;
!hlve checked wage Increases, ana have
drought about unf4vorabl. WORKING
conditions. In other words the recent
Immigrant now be2omcs an active
competitor of the American workman
before ne can be absorbed by a labor
organization, or any change elected
"a his Ideas of proper working wage.
working conditions ana d proper stand