El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-04
ASKS
LEGISLATION
ON FIREARMS
Secretary of Labor Wants
Congress to Bar Arms in
Strike Difficulties.
ASKS MONEY FOR
STRIKE MEDIATION

w appropriation i by y congress to
enable the department of labor
properly to mediate between employ
ers and labor in industrial disputes,
and legislation against the use of
firearms and armed guards in strikes
are urged by secretary of labor W.
p. Wilson in his first report TO pres
ident Wilson.
THE use of firearms" said secre-
tary Wilson. in a species of private
warfare in connection with labor
strikes, calls for serious considera-
ton. Groups of men on both sides,
without military or police authority
fOl it, have used firearms with fatal
effect in the coal strike in southern
Colorado. These arms and the ammu-
milton have doubtless been procured
through interstate commerce; and
many of the armed men are said to
have been imported into Colorado
form other states through a business
concern engaged commercially across
state lines in supplying corporations
with an armed and trained private
SOIdlery or police IN numbers run
ming into hundreds and even thOus-
aEds In connection with the Pere
Marquette strike in Michigan, armed
guards, furnished by agencies in other
states supplying men to take the place
VI AOGdA SlElhCISB accompanied LlAOoG
men to Grand Rapids. They were
there turned back by the United States
marshal under instructions from the
district judge. In the Calumet cop
under contract with the employers
were forwarded to the locality by
agencies in other states"
Relations No Longer Personal.
On relations of capital and labor,
secretary Wilson takes advanced
ground ftrThn relation Of Pn1nIOVnT
and wage Garner" says he, lis no
longer personal or individual, because
both employers and operatives act in
groups"
1T is obvious" the report says,
that this method of employment,
generally necessary for success in
modern industry, may give to employ
erS great cOntractual advantages over
wage earners. Unless wage earners
also act collectively through their
own agents, they are often at prac-
teal disadvantage.
I'm any circumstances, differences
must be expected to arise. In such
cases the department Of labor might
possibly find a common ground for
agreement which the disputants, in
their eagerness for advantage or in
the heat of their controversy had
OE erlOOked."
Wants Functions Defined.
In that connection, it is suggested
that congress clearly define the func-
the mediation of labor disputes and
vote an appropriation adequate to
meet the requirements of mediation
work. In that way, it was suggested.
the welfare of wage earners could
be fOstered while the prosperity OF
employers and the peace and good or
der of society at large were con-
served.
The success already achieved by the
department of labor, in the adjust
ment of labor controversies, demon
strates in the judgment of secretary
Wilson, that such disputes nearly al
ways may be adjusted to the profit Of
all interests; and he believes that the
department properly equipped, should
be able to make mediation progress
sively popular with both the employ
ing and wage earning interests of the
country"
Tide of immigration.
During the fiscal year ended June
80, 1913 1197S72 immigrants came
to this country, an increase of 359,-
100 over the previous year. OF those,
CSC, 1855 were between IA and A years
of age, 147,15S were under IA, and
64,379 were As or over. Twenty-six
per cent of the aliens admitted were
totally illiterate.
While the immigration increased 43
per cent during the last year, the
number of exclusions of arriving
aliens increased only "a per cent.
That was due, the report indicates, to
the financial and physical inability of
the bureau of immigration properly
to supervise the great number of ar
irving aliens.
Chinese Exclusion Difficult.
Difficulties in enforcing the socalled
Chinese exclusion law were discussed,
with a view to the enactment of addi-
tional legislation and the getting of
more money with which to protect the
borders of the country. 1t is said that
Chinese continually are being snug
gIed across both the northern and
southern borders of the country, and
that they come to the ports of entry
as merchants" Students" natives"
and "sons of natives" when they
really are laborers.
Recommendations made by commits
si0ner general Caminetti of the immi-
grafton bureau were called to the at
tention of congress. but were not sub
1ritted in the secretary,s report.