The Washington herald., 1920-09-28
Richard Spillane Says

Frances A Kellor. who has made
n life study OF tenement house con-
ditions. immigration and Industrial
troubles in America. warns employ
ers against hoping or expecting re-
lief from their labor difieulte. by
increased immigration.
1T is to the interest of every in
dustry," she says in a paper she
has issued as vice chairman Of the
inter-racisl council and which the
Manufacturers Record prints. ito
conserve the present Inadequate la
Dor supply and make the best use
of 1t. The tendency Of the foreign
born workers to return to their old
homes should be checked by ever >
legitimate means. The most pow
erful inducemept to them to remain
is. of course, just and humane
treatment with no Discrimination
in wages. housing, living and work
ing conditions between them and
the native-born. Efforts should be
made to establish closer relations
with the foreisn-born workers. II
they have legitimate causes for dis
content, the grievances should be
understood and removed. The same
spirit of cooperation that is being
secured through enlightened EN-,
iployers and their English-speakins
workers should be developed in re-
lstion TO the foreign-born lsborers.
This is not 'coddling.' not phil
anthropy. but labor conservation
As, in the early days Of America,
We were wasteful Of our resources.
coal and oil. natural gas and tim
ber, until We saw the results Of ex-
travsgance, so at present we are
as wasteful of our man-power, as
If the supply were inexhsustible.
We should not be deceived by
the temporary increase in immigra-
tion. The figures that indicate a
large number Of arrivals at Ellis
Island fail to show the fact that
the proportion Of women. children.
professional and clerical workers is
so great as to AFFORD little relief to
our labor shortage OF the manual
laborers coming in. a large percent
age are men who went abroad to
tight and are now returning to their
old jobs. OF new workers, to do
the essential work of America,
there is an exceedingly small per.
centsge. while recent correspond
ence from all parts Of the United
States indicates serious shortage Of
labor in almost every section.
The course OF action for the en-
ployer is. therefore. first, to con-
serve labor as carefully as he con-
serves his raw material; second. 10
regard immigration problems with
the same interest that he gives the
international commerce, realizing
that America is no longer isolated,
and that what happens in the Old
World today will be reflected in his
own business tomorrow"
That man Todd. head OF the Todd
Shipyards Corporation. certainly
knows how to interest his workers
Some time ago announcement was
made Of the distribution OF $1,000
WV Ol tNONh III lHt Nbl Bbi dAlO u
among his men.
Now he is hOnoring his workers
by having their children Cristeu
newly built ships
At Tacoma Miss Florence Bsbish
christened the Hoboken. The YES
sci was named for the city in which
Thomas Babish works and where
the Tietjen & Lang Dry Dock Com
psny. a subsidiary of the Todd Cor
porstion. is located.
I, Following the launching Of the
Hoboken. the Red Hook was
launched. 7-year-oId Mary A. Car
roll. daughter Of Michael Carroll. a
worker in the Robins dry dock and
repair plant. at Red Hook, Brook
lyn, being the sponsor.
Little Miss Carroll stood in the
center Of a great red hook Of roses
when she performed the rites oi
christening the big freighter.
The fathers and mothers Of the
sponsors were the guests Of Mr.
Todd on the transcontinentsl jour
ney. and each OF the sponsors re
ceived a package OF Liberty bonds
as souvenirs Immediately after the
launchings.