The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-23
Wilson Gives Both Sides a
Hearing in White
House
LABOR WANTS
BILL SIGNED
Says Corporations Oppose
Literacy to Hold
Wages Down

II Washington, Jan, 23.--In the face of a
warning from President Wilson against
l questioning motives of opponents of the
immigration bill, Secretary Morrison o.
\ the American Federation Of Labor, yes
terday afternoon suggested broadly in
the White House public hearing that the
influences against the bill are big cor
porations.
These corporations, he suggested, in
duce immigration in order that they may
get cheap labor, Talk of need of aliens
to work United States farms, he limited,
is bait to obtain employees for the
United States Steel corporation, the big
packinghouses and other interests.
"Tbese great corporations" he said,
want two men for every job. That
means they win be able to get one of
the two at very low wage, for hunger
and distress will compel a man to ac-
cept wage below the American stand
ard.
eve are opposed to exploitation Of
| immigrations to swell the dividends of
the United States Steel corporation and
the steamship companies"
Incidentally he touched on the tariff
issue, saying big concerns get protection
for their products, eut the labor market
! il on ...e free list, with the big protect
ed companies paying their men the low
est wages. Social reform, he insisted,
j. retarded in Europe because its nations
know America is a dumping ground tor
! er surplus population.
And looming out among the evils, Nor
rison contended is the fact that the
great immigrant influx is leading TO race
suicide in American families in order
that present wages may maintain the
American standard of living.
Charles Edward Russell protested for
the Socialist party that the measure is
"unsound, unscientific" and difficult to
enforce
!. II. Patten, representing farmers
organizations was the object of the
presidents order that the merits of the
problem. not motives be discussed. He
had limited broadly that efforts ito Rus
sianze the labor element" OF the United
States was behind opposition 10 a veto. !
Il think we had better not consider
upllNth, interrupted the ptthlatHLs /
"Iet us keep to the merits OF the case"
The magnificent east room of the ex-
ecutive mansion was crowded 70 the /
doors with hundreds of men and women /
interested. pro and con, in the bill. Ask |
ing the president to sign the bill were |
chiefly labor men. Seeking a veto were
men, many Of them immigrants, who
battled for their kinsfolk across the wa
tiers.
The president allotted two and a half
hours TO the session, and while frankly
opposed 10 the literacy test, be gave at
tentive ear TO both sides.
Pstten warned the president thst Eu-
ropes undesirsbles-not her strong men
will food the nation when the war Is
over. And, he suggested, the South for
years has been afflicted with one un-
fortunate illiterate immigration which
drove the poor white trash back 10 the
hills from which they are now begin
ming 10 depart 10 enter labor fields"
DIR. Stewart Patton, alienist, pleaded
for the bill on the ground that already
Europe has poured too many insane iito
This country. Asylums. he said, house
more insane than colleges have students.
Speaking for $4,000 railroad men, vii.
lam NJ Clark Of the brotherhood Of To- I
'omotive Engineers. asked the presidents Z
signature TO the bill. l.