The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-04-22
Opponents of immigration Bill
Did Not Divide on Party Lines
Congressman London Socialis) Assails Union Labor.
Sabath of Illinois, and Sullivan, of Massachusetts,
Urge Cheap Labor

Opposition to the Burnett Immigra-
ton bill, which passed the House,
March 30, by vote OF 3O7 to 81, was
Of an no-partisan character.
On the Democratic side, Congress-
men SABBATH, of Illinois, and Gallivan,
OF Massachusetts, were leaders in de-
Tending the cause OF cheap labor advo-
Gates. In one OF Mr.. Gallivan's fervent
will bar from our land its most vital
necessity - strong, vigorous, simple,
God-fearing peasants"
Mr.. SABBATH insisted that reports
which have been circulated, declaring
there is an imperative need for imm-
grafton legislation, are unfounded and
unjustifable.'
Congressman London, Socialist, op-
posed the bill: Over one-half of the
Friday. March -, speech of this attor-
ney was devoted to an arraignment OF
the trade-union movement In a tone
that sounded like spokesman for the
National Association OF Manufacturers,
he declared that:
"The trouble with the average repre-
sentative OF organized labor is that he
is incapable OF that broader vision which
sees above and beyond the narrow needs
OF the moment. That is the misfortune
of the tradc-union movement What
lack OF intelligence The politician is
afraid to tell them that they are stupid"
In answer to a question, Mr.. London
said he assumed employees in Youngs-
town steel mills were unorganized, and
then made this reference to the trade
union movement:
But II they were not organized, it
was the fault OF the narrowness of the
trade union movement, that does not
know how to reach the masses"
Mr. London is evidently unacquanted
with the spy systems of large corpora
tions, with the constant agitation by
the American Federation of Labor to
organize the unskiled, and with the
number of unionists who have been
sluggcd by corporation thugs to pre-
vent organization. He said:
"The union should greet the imm-
grant as brother The union man
should teach him unionism. Instead
every immigrant as an enemy"
Despite this attorneys claim that he
represents the workers. he made it
clear that he would be the sole Judge
OF what was best fitted for them. In
his second reference to the alleged stu
pidity of workers, he said:
81 have no faith in the friend Of labor
who encourages every stupid demand
OF the worker, checking at the same
time every real aspiration of the work
| ing class for greater share in liic'S
/ joys
/ On the Republican side, Congress-
man Joseph Cannon, of Illinois; Ben
net, OF New York. and Moore OF Penn
Sylvania, were among the leading op-
poncntS OF restriction
In referring to the literacy test, Mr.
Moore said
ut casts down utterly the toilcr who
struggles patiently and laboriously un-
der the burdens imposed upon him by
the strong and the heartlcss.'
MIR. Cannon is president OF the Ma.
tional Liberal immigration League,
which was exposed last year by PreSi-
dent GompcrS. who showed that this
league was financed by steamship com
panics, steel, mine and coal companies
and other large employers of cheap
labor. The documents made public by
President GompcrS proved that this al
legged phlIanthropic organization was
the vehicle by which cheap labor
advocates opposed immigration restric-
ton, 1t was also shown that the league
financed DELEGATIONS of various nation,
aiticS to Washington, and that the
delegates were not selected by the or
, CARNATIONS they alleged to represent
Congressman Bennet, another active
opponent OF restriction. is vicc-prcsi-
dent OF the National Liberal Immigra,
; tion League. In the Congressional
Record OF February and March, this
year, Mr.. Bennett acknowledged he was
attorney for steamship companies, that
ne defended contract labor violators
and that he opposed increasing, from
$4,000 to 100000 the appropriation for
Secretary OF Labor Wilson to enforce
the contract labor law
, In the Congressional Record OF Feb
ruary p, 1916, Mr. Bennett it quoted:
while | was out OF the house
amongst my clients were some steam
ship companies, and studied it (imm
grafton rcstriction) some more"
Mr.. Bcnnet was member OF the
United States immigration Commission
that investigated this question fo,
nearly four years. He was the onl,
member OF the commission that dis