Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-11
ASKS PROTECTION FROM
IMPORTED FOREIGN LABOR
a. +. OF l.. Secretary Tells Senate
Committee Unemployed .incri.
cans Should Get Jobs First.
ASKS FOR rwo-YEAR BAN
Says Labor Is Entitled TO Snmc
Consideration From Congress
49, Given Business by Tariff Laws.
Business Men Score johnson Bill.

WASHINGTON. Jan. lO.-Protcction
fer the American lahorcr from for
cign imports" on an quality with The
protection accorded American prod
ucts by tariff laws. was asked OF the
Senate Immigration Committee today
by Frank Morrison. secretary of tho
American Federation OF Labor
Nj. Morrison added that the posi-
tioa OF the Federation vas that or
etraisht-out protection. without any
tcserva; on for "a period Of two years.
from alien labor
I'VE object" said Mr. Morrison. ito
throwing OR doors wide open. Hood
ing the American market with cheap
European labor and denying the
American worhr- the same pro:rc.
,ion ycI give RS products under tno
tariff laws" T'Ae Federation sccr..
iary told the committee that repor,s
JUS: received from labor officials IL,
1il oit!es showed the total Yumbcr OF
unemployed in those places 10 be
1,S1?.272. and said he would not dare
estimate what the total o; all the
cities would show"
Figures were submitted by MIR. Nor
rison showing the unemployed in
Greater New York to be 100000; be-
troit, 10000. Philadelphia. 235. 900:
Baltimore, 10000; Chicago. 200. coo.
Cleveland, llS,ooO: ST Louis. 10000:
Boston. $4,000: milwaukee. 10000: san
Francisco. $4,000. Seattle. 5000. and
Pittsburgh. 2o,0oc.
Flood Ready To Come.
1T is a high crime" Mr.. Morrison
continued. FOR any man ia the face
of these figures TO advocate the bring
ing OF millions Of men from Europe
and add them TO the number of an
employed already here. The Hood is
ready To come. Official figures OF the
Department OF Labor show that lOl.-
600 came in October. and 100000 III
November. Eliminating those who re-
turned to Europe these figures would
mean net immigration of $4,000 a
year"
MIR. Morrison declared the American
workman was entitled to sustaining
employment" And that he could not
get THIS as long as the doors were
open TO the Europeans. lie contcnded
that the American labor supply in
FLORIDA. where cigar manufacturers
have asked 10 be permitted To bring
in. Cuban labor. was equivalent 10 the
needs of the cigar factories.
Statements 10 the contrary, he said.
we're 'libelous and absolutely false"
Similar conditions prevail in the
States bordering on Mexico. the wit.
ness testified. and labor from that
country should be excluded as "A
menace TO American iaborers in those
States"
Busincss Men Testify.
Secretary Morrison WAS preceded or
the stand by delegation OF business
men representing construction indus
tries and manufacturers Throughout,
the country. John WisEins. OF Penn
sylTania. leader of the delegation. OPP
posed the Johnson bill and declared
arguments that a "hood OF Europcans
was imminent" were absolutely ia.
lacious." He asked for modification
or elimination of li;rracy tests and
contract restriction laws.
TX is our belief" Nh. Virgins said.
that under the Sterling bill! there
VIII be "A more Intelligent and better,
enforcement; o: Immigration laws
than other legislation presented"