Denver labor bulletin., 1916-02-05
DEMAND DOCILITY
OF ALIEN WORKERS
Walsh Puts Charge Direct to
High Railway Officials
Large Employers Less Interested in
Americanization Of Foreigners
Than Forging Their Chains

'Docile subseryiency, not American
ization, is what you desire,S is the con-
cluding statement OF Frank P. Walsh,
chairman of the industrial relations COM
mittee, in letter to Frank TrumbulI,
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad official and
chairman of the national Americaniza-
tion committee, which held a two days
meeting in Washington, last week.
Mr.. Walsh had previously urged the
committee TO favor trade unionism as
the greatest Americanization agency. He
received an eNasive answer.
III you are determined wilfully to
neglect the American trade and labor
union as an Americanizing influence"
now writes Mr.. Walsh, Il cannot avoid
the conclusion that docile subserviency,
not Americanization, is what you
desire"
Among the active members of your
committee are many large employers
who are relentlessly resisting any move
ment that threatens - free their en-
ployes from industrial tyranny and
gross economic exploitation, and by thus
freeing them to Americanize them, in
the only true sense in which that word
can be used"
Attention is called to the absence of
any relief from conditions existing in
large employments, the managers of
which are actively connected with the
national Americanization committee, and
who ignore, as Mr. Walsh states, that
the problem of the immigrant is the
problem OF the wage Garner"
Mr.. Walsh prints a long list of these
managers which includes railroads, the
steel trust, and other large industries
that resist unionism and exploit their
workers.
7 find much positive evidence that
your efforts are primarily directed to
strengthening the chains of Industrial
tyranny in this country" continues Mr..
Walsh. You propose to sanotify and
confirm oppression by waving the Amer
lean flag in the face or its victims, and
by insidiously stigmatizing as unpatri-
otic any attempts they may make to
throw off the yoke of the exploiting in
terests you represent
"Iou cite with approval the policy of
employers who have used compulsion to
force workmen into night schools where
they may learn English. You would
have employers extend their arbitrary
control over the lives of the workers to
the workers leisure hours, debating to
ming. and threatening them with the loss
OF their opportunity to earn living
that is. with starvation for themselves
and their families, if they do not obey.
And it is admitted by you that this
hateful use of arbitrary power by the
employer is for the purpose of defeat
ing the efforts OF strike agitators, pre-
venting strikes and increasing the eco
nomic value OF the worker to his en-
ployer.
q do not doubt tha. your committee
will be friendly to slight wage increases
in industries where exploitation has
gone to limit that threatens to drive
its victims to desperation. But in the
light OF the policies which / have
pointed out. and the attitude which sp
parently an;mates YOUR committee. | am
not prepared for any really effective eN
ercise OF influence to this end. and
must point out that even in accomplish
ing actual betterments, il any be ac-
eomplished. your committee, and those
operating with it. obviously will be act
ing in the spirit of men who keep their
live stock well led and healthy in order
that they may work harder and bear
their burdens less complainingly.
Il should rejoice to believe that l am
mistaken in my Judgment of your ae-
tivities. The need of Americanizing this
nation. of eonqueTing it for its own peo-
pie and making our American ideals ct
fective. wa> never greater. Ii can be
done only by freeing the workers from
industrial oppression. ami that can only
be done by the collective action OF the
workers themselves