The Washington herald., 1914-02-04
4
Use OF ARMS in
! STRIKES SCORED
Secretary Wilson Denounces
Interstate Transportation
Of Guards.
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
Labor Department Shows that I'm
migration for 1913 Passed the
Million Mark.
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT

In his frst annual report, made public
last night, Secretary Wilson. OF the De-
partment of Labor. asks for legislation
by Congress which will prevent the inter-
state TRANSPORTATION of armed men for
use in connection with labor contro-
versies Secretary Wilson long has been
known as an ardent exponent OF Union
labor. and his conduct OF the depart
ment thus far has caused considerable
comment because Of his pronounced
views on this subject In the recommen-
dations contained In his annual report.
however. he has gone farther In support
OF organized labor than on any other
occasion. He severely condemns the use
of firearms In connection with strikes.
and incidentally takes a fling at the use
of detective agencies in such contro-
versies.
Secretary Wilson says:
'The use OF firearms. in a species of
private warfare in connection with labor
strikes. calls for serious consideration.
Groups Of men on both sides, without
military or police authority for ii, have
used firearms with fatal effect In the
coal strike in Southern Colorado. These
arms and the ammunition doubtless have
been procured through interstate COM
merce; and many of the armed men are
said to have been imported into Colorado
from other States through a business con-
Germ engaged commercially across State
lines in supplying corporations with an
armed and trained private soldiery or
police in numbers running into hundreds
and even thousands.
In connection with the Pere Mar
quette strike in Michigan, armed
guards. furnished by agencies in other
States supplying men to take the place
of local strikers, accompanied those
men to Grand Rapids They were
there turned back by the United States
under instructions from the
Judge. In the Calumet copper
mining region. armed guards under |
contract with the employers were for |
warded to the locality by agencies in |
other States. In view OF the facts in |
these three cases and Of the we'll |
known fact that detective agencies are !
to a greater or less etxent engaged |
in supplying groups of |
armed men across State lines, the de- |
partment recommends that Congress |
take action within its constitutional |
to regulate this business ia |
the interest of public peace and order"
The Secretary refers to the report OF
a Congressional committee in 1898 I
which. he says, condemns the practice
of sheriffs and other peace officers in
whom the Pinkerton agency supplied
70 corporations involved in strikes"
Danger of Explosion.
That an explosion like the Communi-
paw disaster Of 1911 is likely at any
to cause a serious loss of life
among the aliens at the crowded immi-
grant station on Ellis Island, in New
York harbor. Is the fear strongly ex-
~al h,. ,n ha |
port. Referring to the accident OF three
rears ago. when an explosion OF dyna-
mite ABOARD a schooner at a pier on the
Jersey side killed more than a score OF
PERSONS and broke window glass over
large part of Manhattan and Brook
yn. he says:
1T seems to be very doubtful, how
.ver, from the voluminous correspond
nee and reports upon the subject on
II any remedy is possible without Con-
,ressional legislation
Were a catastrophe to occur, respon-
ible Federal officials could not explain
heir own inaction by referring TO the
'igilance. as il has been suggested that
hey may do. of local authorities. Such
though usually accepted before j
disasters, are seldom admitted after
vard.".
The dynamite vessels are said to fail to
,eep the anchorage boundaries marked .
'ut for them by the Bureau of Naviga- ,
ion. the northerly limits of which are
500 feet southerly from Ellis Island, he
eports.
Figures on immigration.
The Commissioner General OF Immigra-
ion reports that during the fiscal year
nded July l, 1913, l.1s7.s7e immigrant
liens entered the United States, COM
AIRED with SSs172 the fiscal year preced- ]
ne. The actual increase in the alien |
population for the fiscal year 1913 was &.
Is. .3os. compared with 40l, ,ss3 for the fiscal
ear 1912. {
Twenty-six per cent of the aliens over {
ourteen years Of age admitted were '
literate. The aliens had with them $40 g
soIg, an average of S34 per person. !
;ighty-three per cent had less than $50 ,
ach. 7
The preponderance of aliens from I
southern and Eastern Europe is in
reasing.
Only 1S2. $50 immigrant aliens Q5 per b
ent of the total number came from Q
'orthern and Western Europe during the q
asst year. On the other hand. S96, 553 I
about IS per cent Of the totaD came 5
rom Eastern and Southern Europe and n
Western Asia. divided as follows: Italy, Il
y.
Iuding Finland, 2s1,o40; Austria, 1s7,2S: o
hungary, 117,5so; Greece, 22.sl7: Turkey g
, Europe. A1S; Turkey in Asia. q e
8; Portugal, h171: Spain. 6,1S7: Bull {
aria, Servia~a and Montenegro, 1,753 ;Rou-
lania, 2.155.
There were admitted 6.s5s Japanese in
le year. These consisted of former resi- I,
ents, parents. wives and children Of res !,
ents. new arrivals. who were non n
borers and settled agriculturists
This is the first report Of the Depart
ent of Labor. which was created by acts
Congress approved March last. 1t
ok over four older bureaus. The Sec
tary reviews the numerous labor dis
ties in which the department has Of
red mediation and draws a hopeful con-
usion for the settlement Of strike trou-
es in the future.
DEATH RECORD.