Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-07-17
EXODUS OF ALIEN LABOR AT
TER THE EUROPEAN WAR.

Of immigration after the world
war. Many men believe that we
will witness a big influx Of la
borers from southern and south
eastern Europe, others are of the
opinion that the reverse will be
happening, they believe that
foreign labor in the United States
will return to Europe We are
inclined to fear the same thing
Marcus Braun, the editor of Fair
Play, also adhers to this believe
He says on the subject:
The foreign labor market, upon
which we depend to a large extent
has been altered by the world war
VIII the peace settlement improve
the prospect? / doubt it. There ls
no hope to be placed in any large
influx of immigrant labor from de-
pleted Europe, nor do / think that
we can expect to retain all the
foreign population we now have
among us If foreign governments
have their way as far as repatriation
is concerned. 1t is by this time pret-
ty certain that Germany and the Cen
trail Allies cannot be defeated, in
the way the Allies anticipated in
1915, and that they will form a
strong partnership after the war as
before. The policy Of the Central
Powers and allies will be directed
from Berlin, their emigration laws
will fit in with those OF Germany
My belief is thatsome sort ofinternal
autonomy will be given to the Poles
without Germany and Austria relin-
gushing their political control of
Poland. Thus in the case of another
war, Poland could be used as q buf-
fer-state between Russia and theCen-
tral Allies. 1t is to be assumed that
German capital would be Immediate
ly invested in Poland for Industrial
expansion, inasmuch as Poland can
supply cheaper labor than could pc
obtained in either Germany or Au-
stria. Austria-Hungary, and particu-
larly Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia,
Bosnia, etc, these countries having
been heretofore mostly agricultural,
would be developed to their full ex-
tent, and various industrial plants
would be established, especially in
the southern part Of Austria-Hun-
gary and in the Balkans; this ma
turally with the backing Of German
capital. The water power through
the mountainous countries of the
Balkans and Carpathian mountains,
would be utilized for these new in
dustries coal and copper mines
would be developed; all these un-
doubtedly under some measures of
governmental control.
Owing to the fact that in the past
American capital could never find
any inducement or protection to en-
courage the development OF the
American Merchant Marine the bulk
of the passenger and freight trans
portation on the Atlantic Ocean has
been mostly in foreign hands, be-
cause the European governments
have assisted and supported in diff
ferent ways their own steamship
lines. The consequence of this has
been that the foreign steamship lines
have had the cream OF the business,
have been working in unison through
their steamship conference, have an
organized army OF $4,000 to $4,000
agents and subagents scattered
throughout the world. whose prin-
cipal business is to sell steamship
tickets to the emigrant, exchange
lily and keep constantly in touch with
the foreign laborer.
No political or religious body has
ever had such devoted missionaries
as these sub-agents are to theTrans-
Atlantic steamship lines. TO these
steamship ticket agents will foreign
governments look for assistance to
bring their subjects back from the
United States and prevent a further
exodus, and to these very same
people our captains of industry will
have to appeal to retain all the
foreign labor which Is by no means
adequate as 1t is. 1t is plain there
fore that circumstances conspiro to
give a tremendous power to the
heads of the Steamship companies.
AS a matter Of fact 1t would be
unfair to blame the steamship COM
panies for any exodus OF labor. 1t
is immaterial to them in what di-
rcction they take their passengers.
Moreover they do not make the
economic conditions. These follow
the law of supply and demand. III
the conditions are better here, some
immigrants will manage to come
over from somewhere and IL the con-
ditions are better in Europe much
Of the European labor will leave the
States.
The moment the European war Is
over (and most likely at the request
OF foreign governments) the 10000
steamship sub-agents throughout the
United States will Immediately start
to distribute their nformationamong
the foreign laborers who are at
present peacefully working in our
mines and in our steel plants and
practically supporting our industrial
nfe The circulars will in fact show
good cause why they should purchase
steamship ticket to the other side.
1t is all perfectly fair but neverthe-
less it is detrimental to us. When
these foreign laborers are shown:
How much money they can earn
II they return to Europe
How much happier they will be
in their own homes, where they will
be treated as welcome children, and
not as foreigners as 1t win be alleged
they are treated in the United States,