Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-09
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The New Mexico Workers Chronicle
says: THE steel trust is reaping the
reward of herding foreigners into
America to take the place of Ameri-
can workers, and it must be bitter
pill"
1t is absolutely true that cheap
alien laborers were preferred by the
Pennsylvania steel interests and en-
couraged to come in droves. especially
before congress passed a law to pre-
vent importation of contract labor,
which law has been evaded more or
less.
But the aliens were keen for the
Jobs and cared nothing for American
labor unions, which they prevented
from unionizing the steel industry.
They were ready to accept wages and
conditions then much worse than now
prevail. Every now and then some
of them rebelled and rioted, as they
became DESTROYS of more pay, but al
ways there were plenty who would
replace cutters. They cared nothing
for the elevation of American labor
The closed shop and collective bar
gaining were impossible for American
unions to apply to the Pennsylvania
industry. 1t is still so. because the
majority of the workers, the majority
of strikers even now are almost as
alien as in years gone by. Unions
have endeavored to aid steel employ
es, with a view to strengthening the
organization. But neither the strikers
nor the steel company have much
genuine sympathy from the masses
of the people of the nation. The
union members must realize that the
country would be better off if the
alien operatives had not come in sucE
vast numbers, and that it would be
decidedly to the interest of American
labor to have these aliens drift back
to Europe because of dissatisfaction
with their present lot here.
That the alien population of the
steel districts are detriment t.
unionism is not to be denied, and are
not easily absorbed. They are easily
led to outbreaks that give the enemies
Of unionism opportunity to appeal to
the country, which responds, not for
the benefit of the steel interests, but
because of condemnation of disorder.
The people object to disorder ano
f,t hat a no
engaged in rOugh-house methods get
the odium. generally. for most people
who have trouble and grievances be-
lieve there are other ways than riot
ing to secure adjustment. The public
does not always believe strikes UNI
merited-it is only when the results
pinch the people and go beyond the
limit that union principles endorse
that the press and the citizens become
censorious to an unjust degree, may
hap.
The country has, through the ae-
lions of its industrial managers and
the rush of the foreign element. Sc,
cured too much immigration for it,
health, and is finding the pill bitter
The steel operators manage, however
if they have to take painful treat
ment now and then, TO charge thu
bill UP to customers, who mark vi
prices and collect from the public.
When California labor was OPP
pressed by Chinese that railway build
ers and others encouraged to come
the labor leaders found relief by let
ting the public know of the straits Il
which such aliens were reducing tn
men, women and children of the Cal
ifornia country. There was no at
tempt to unionize Chinese labor. TIL
country took cognizance and stoppet
the coming of more Chinese, and tn
trouble adjusted itself, the surplu
gradually returning to their old homo
and the remainder fitting into niche
where they are no longer a menace t
labor Those here at the passage o
restriction laws were not driven away
The alien populations here should
have full justice, humane treatment
tolerance II they OBEY laws. Inc ma
ton stopped the importations o
slaves and has endeavored to bette
the conditions of the black race here
The Chinese were stopped and thos'
here now are treated fairly. Let 1t b,
so with the other alien races. VIII
constant influx of any of them union
izing is not the remedy--a permanent
remedy--nor the easiest solutions
BY closing the gates. east and west
for a period, the advent of more alienl
for the congested districts would b.
stopped for awhile. The numbers
here would be greatly reduced by de.
partures and gradually become Amer.