The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-06-04
immigration and the War

upon under the operation of our
present immigration laws, when the
European war is over and peace has
been declared, Is a doubtful one.
Some have predicted that there
would be Immediately an enormous
tide of immigration from European
countries affected by the war flowing
into the United States In order to
obtain the benefits of its presumable
immunity from war. On the other
hand, 1t is contended that the very
spirit of patriotism that has been
invoked by the war will operate in
compelling the citizens of European
countries to remain at home and en-
gage in the process OF rebuilding
their institutions.
am somewhat inclined to this
view. 1t may be recalled that fol-
lowing the Civil war. in which the
southern section of our country had
borne the hardships of invasion and
defeat, there were strong appeals
made during the era of reconstruc-
ton to the Southern people to emf
crate to other lands. There was an
insignificant response to- this appeal,
a few states almost unanimously de-
clded that 1t was their duty to re-
main In the South and help to build
up its shattered civilization, although
its labor system had been changed
as result of the war, its transpor-
tation system and banking system
destroyed and the flower of its man
hood was under the sod.
1t seems to me that the same ap-
peal to patriotism will be the COM
polling motive for the people OF Eu-
rOpean countries.
A matter which seems to me Of
vast Importance is the duty of main
tanning, and wherever possible ele-
waiting, American standards of living
and labor. We In America have
gained much from the experience of
those who have been trying to solve
the problems OF labor in the coun-
tries of the Old World. In some
respects we have not reached the
standards set by the nations of the
Old World which are now engaged
In armed conflict. Whatever may be
the outcome of the war, we cannot
fail to recognize the fact that these
standards, erected little by little with
so much of patience and persever-
ance through many decades, must,
temporarily at least, be lowered to
meet the exigencies of the new con-
ditions when peace is finally de-
clared.
So America, in its turn, must be
the standard bearer, and any at
tempt here to lower the standards,
whether to secure greater profits in
industry because OF a suddenly In
creased demand for our products. or
to lower the wage scale because of
the pressure Of the problem of the
unemployed, would be calamity not
only to our own country, but to the
world. Our children must be pro-
tected from the consequences of too
early toll. The shorter working ody
for women, which so many states
and the District of Columbia have
enacted, must not be heightened; nor
the S-hour day for all wage earners
which has been made the standard
for government employment and
which has been established for many
industries through collective bar
gaining.
The act granting certain employees
of the United States compensation
for injuries sustained in the course
of their employment should be
amended so as to minimize the hard
ship its terms now impose upon the
employees intended to be protected by
It. And the friends of humane leg
islation, in state and nation. should
stand for the progress of their work
along humane lines and resist any
attempt, even temporarily, to stay
that progress. William B. Wilson,
Secretary Of Labor. in Harper's
Weekly.