New-York tribune., 1915-03-16
IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN
LABOR
The Source of Woes Unnumbered,
Thinks This Reader.
= the Editor Of The Tribune.

Tc the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | have watched with intense interest
your articles on this alien labor question.
While there is no greater admirer Of The
Tribune's editorials than myself | do not
hesitate TO let you know that disagree with
your sentiments on this most vital question.
How can a real, live American with any
true sense of patriotism sit back and be glad
ttat this alien labor bill has been repealed?
IN to-day's article entitled Satisfactory TO
Alp The Tribune says that this country in
vites immigration Why, then, has there
been repeated effort by men of real brains 10
introduce measures that would, if made laws,
require "a reasonable amount of intelligence
from all foreigners before entry into the
United States?
In what other city Of the civilized world
are the police confronted with such fendish
criminalty ss IN New York City, and why?
Because New York City is known all over the
world as a nucleus for the degenerate igno-
rarlus who Is 8" void Of any sense Of edu-
cation or morality that he can only earn his
Livelihood" ~ such it may be called by sell
ing cocaine, etc, by indulging in and encour
aging "white slavery" by manufacturing and
laying bombs and Internal machines, by
starting Inccndary fires for revenge and.
what | consider the worst, by blackmail,
which includes kidnapping of innocent chill
dren from the streets.
Be honest to your readers and admit that
the most dangerous criminals in this city to-
day have come from foreign countries.
Whether you admit it or not, Police Depart
ment statistics prove it. Yet this country
encourages immigration and cares not if the
immigrants be the scum of the earth, so
long rs they are healthy and not paupers.
The aforementioned article entitled Salts
factory to Alp says that the bill provides
that citizens must have preference over
aliens in employment on public works, but
relieves the contractors by permitting en-
ploymont of aliens when citizens are not
available"
Right there is the joker-"when citizens
are not available" DO you or does any other
intelligent man think that contractor will
employ Citizen" and give a fair living
wage when that same contractor can get car
leads Of aliens or Hindus, as another of
your readers has advised who can't even
speak English and who will work for half Of
what an American citizen will work for? Not
on your life and you know IT,
The article further says: at is not to be
expected that they should be encouraged to
oust citizens from employment, but they GER
tainly should have the chance TO obtain en-
poyment where they merit it," Was there
ever such rubbish? Who, | would like to
know, is elected to decide this question? Mr..
Contractor is the man, and he does decide it
by hiring alien labor because citizen labor
Is not preferable and not available. as the
bill jokingly states.
Why has the wage scale decreased during
the last ten years as regards manual labor?
Isn't il because alien labor can be had for
half the price? Tell the truth about It,
But around election time our district cap-
talns and leaders don't care a rap about the
population wh ch doesn't vote. No, they are
after the Citizen" who has vote" But
h' isn't given job, is he? Very seldom.
The Chief Executive of this great and go-
rious nation vetoed the literacy test (and
practically killed itl as harmful to American
interests. Whose interests, I'd like to know?
But this same man will read almost daily of
some hdeous crime wrought al the hands Of
some foreigner and aimed at American peo-
Fle. Yet he maintains that immigration be
encouraged in all branches without any more
than the present restrictions.
The Tribune, the most progressive, the
cl6anest, the most truthful and the only real
live newspaper that is in truth devoted TO
the interests of "the people" upholds and
commonds our Chief Executive for his action
az regards this literacy test, and likewise
lines up with Governor Whitman in the re-
peal of the alien labor law
As am no fanatic, socialist or in any way
demented, am open TO further conviction on
either Of these two subjects.
FRANCIS G.. BAIER.
Brooklyn, March II, 1915.