United labor bulletin., 1913-11-01
John Mitchell, Labor Leader, Dis
cusses a Question of the
Highest Importance.
POINTS INVOLVED ARE MANY
vexed Question Of Possible Restrie-
tion Of immigration Is Touched On
Thinks United States Might
Learn From the Euro
pean Countries.

Its army of unemployed is discussed
editorially in the International Book
binder by John Mitchell, formerly pres
ident of the mine workers and mem
ber of the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor.
AS an enormous practical relief to
the wageworkers he advocates several
governmental measures restriction OF
immigration: a steady development OF
the policy of reclamation, with new
adaptations OF our homestead law to
the reclaimed lands. and persistency
in the suppression of legalized priv
ileges.'
The United States" he says. is
the only great industrial country
which has not taken up the problem OF
unemployment and endeavored to nit
igate Its deplorable effects.
Neither the national government
nor that of any state has an adequate
or systematic means OF ascertaining
the number OF unemployed at any time
in any community. With us in Amer
lea the problem is exceptionally CON-
plicated. through the factor of an i'm
migration unknown in all other coun-
tries.
Were we to adopt measures for the
relief OF the unemployed similar to
those in practice either in Germany or
Great Britain. and make no provision
for excluding Immigrants from their
operation. the risk would be encoun-
tered of simply providing better
means than at present for distributing
newly landed immigrants throughout
our country. to get work which might
be done by labor already here.
We have arrived at that state at
which social action in some form
must to an extent take the place of
individual effort. which in the past
could be depended on in a land of
opportunities. the principal OF which
the free west was continuously open
federal commission has reported
that our labor market is overstocked.
especially in unskilled occupations.
with the wage earuers having
steady employment at living wages,
society might proceed TO answer all
the other problems OF the human race
In comparative peace and happiness
But this is a long stage beyond any
yet sought by the nations that have
given the problem OF unemployment
any attention They have gone nc
farther than to keep the unemploy-
ed wage earners just about alive and
put them in connection with employ
ers-
In this work Germany has taken
the lead. enabled TO do so by her
state systems of insuring and pension
ing the laborers. of rendering aid
through trade unions and other volun-
tary administrations. and OF maintain
ing labor bureaus and temporary lodg
ings for the unemployed.
Great Britain is now in the second
year OF experimenting with 4 national
system OF government labor bureaus.
from which much WAS expected as
step supplementary TO old age pen
sions. but which has been the subject
of criticism by some of the trade
unions. 1t is to be seriously doubted
whether our working class in Amer
lea can be helped much through the
European point OF view with regard to
the wage-workers.
The American way out would
seem TO be through seeking economic
Justice and improving voluntary or
ganizations and systems
New York.-In New York city the
International Ladies' Garment Work
ers' union, the Journeymen Tailors'
International union. the United Gar
mcnt Workers of America and the
Fur Workers International union plan
to federate.
London. .England.-The county coun-
ell has decided to issue an order for
the closing of barber shops through
out London at the same time.
Augusta, Ga.-The Tristate Printers
league. embracing the states OF Geor-
gia, South Carolina and Florida. was
organized recently.
San Francisco.-Beginnin with No
vember % Frisco felt and compost
ton roofers will work but n half day
on Saturdays.
Victoria. Australia.-A contributory
workmen's compensation scheme has
been introduced into the legislature.
In the hope OF introducing II into
the United States an expert from the
department of agriculture has been
sent to Manchuria to get specimens
of peach that weighs n pound
The longest bridge In the world Is
the Lion bridge near Sangsang. in
China 1t extends 5% miles over an
arm OF the Yellow sea and is support
ed by 800 huge stone arches
or tho 22o.9o2 Germans who emi.
grated In 1881. 2o6.1s9, or 9s per
cent. went to the United Statss
Throughout the succeeding three dec
AIDES the proportion ranged about 90
per cent