The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-03-06

Union Labor's Emissaries Will
Act AS Angels Of Mercy to
:~*:: *Europe's Workers.

That 50,395 foreign-born whites in
California were unable to read or
write, which is 10 per cent. of the
total forefgn-born white population of
the, State, is revealed by the last cen
sus.; This percentage of illiteracy ran
up as high as Sc per cent. in I'm
perial County 49,.
A Commission of immigration and
Housing was created by an Act of the
California Legislature in 1913, and
under date of January 2, 1915, this
Commission made it's first report to
the Governor of the State. The re-,
port was submitted in printed form,
comprising pamphlet of 1913 pages,
and while the work Of the commission
may. be said to be in an embryonic
stage, the report shows that the state
of California has g. serious matter
confronting it in the immigration
problem, and that it will become
much more serious when the great
influx of immigrants commence to
arrive via the Panama canal.
A Growing Problem
Under the heading of THE Immi-
grant and Transportation the report
reads:
Immigrants destined for the West
and California are in trouble from the
moment they land from Ellis Island,
as il shown in the reports of the Blu
reau Of immigration Of the state Of
New York. They are exploited in
going from the boat to the, train by
baggage men, taxicab drivers, fake
land agents and confidence men.
,n$H IL ~ ia
distances, and, on leaving the~port OF
entry for California, bring little sup
ply for the trip. Train officials are
not usually. sympathetic and scarcely
ever speak the immigrants language.
These conditions in the ports Of entry
and in transit, coupled with the too
frequent roundabout routing of immi-
grants, cause them to land in Cali
fornia hungry, discouraged, and often
times with depleted pocketbooks.
| It was found that usually upon ar
rival In the larger cities in California
the immigrant again falls into the
clutches of exploiters. For instance,
in San Francisco, immigrants may put
their baggage into the care. of the
reputable baggage companies, or, just
as easily, into the hands OF a group
| of 'shyster' transfer companies, who.
under their changing names, have for
years exploited the immigrant and the
inexperienced visitor from the country.
These companies operate under a
quarterly license fee Of IS. A case
was, found where their, runners had
pulled a. woman's parcel check from
her and held it until given SO cents:
in another case they charged 81 for
| re-checking a trunk; and often they
so juggled checks that the baggage
disappeared, with no identihcat1on -.re-
ceipt whereby it could be traced. II
is largely because OF the discovery Of
many instances of exploitation that
the commission was led to establish a
bureau Of investigation and Of COM
plaints.''
q The Duty of Emissar1es.
An important duty Of the delega-
ton to- be sent to Europe by the Los
Angeles Union Labor Temple Associa-
ton will be an educational propagan-
da to protect the immigrant from
such atrocities. r.,
Another important mission of the
delegation will be to assist to reunit-
| Alk Lie lU1NCS VI 4dUOA dAu " ASAH
dispel these newly arisen barriers OF
race hatred and martial animoisties
that are sure to exist at the conclu-
sion of the terrible war. America, the
melting pot of all nations, will be
most fitted to step forth and assist In
| re-uniting the Europeans.
The Los Angeles Union Labor Tenn
pie european Tour Contest" is Gre
ating great interest, both within and
outside the ranks Of organized labor.
Over a score of organizations have
entered candidates in the contest,
which will no doubt prove interesting
from now on The Union Labor TEN
pie Association announces that it will
publish standing of candidates in the
near future.
Greysolon Cigars are good.