New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
By T. N. Carver

fTOJeSSOF " EcoUOWacS, ndTcuTO
University
TT WAS doubtless true at one time
that immigrants were attracted to
this country by free land and the
rapid utilization of natural rsources,
such as mines and forests. During
the last decade or so, these factors
have had less influence. The rapid ex-
pansion of industries, principally of
the indoor sort, has attracted more
immigrants than the exploitation of
natural resources. 1t is this rapid ex-
pansion of industries which increases
the demand for labor and makes con-
ditions good for iaborers. The fact
that laborers continue to seek adms-
sion to this country indicates that,
as compared with other countries at
least, conditions are good here.
AS to physical resources, we are not
much better off than Russia; we prob
ably have not as much good, black
soil available for cultivation. We prob
ably have more coal and iron, though
Russia is by no means deficient in
these resources. If we continue to
attract laborers, and our population
continues to expand, whereas Russia
fails to attract laborers and her popu-
latlon continues to contract, it will
not be because of the difference in
natural resources; it will be due to
difference either in the kind Of peo-
pie or the kind of institutions we have.
Why do our industries continue to
expand, Or upon what factors does the
expansion of industries depend? are
the most important questions that la
boring people or others interested in
the welfare of laboring people can ask
themselves. Upon this more than upon
their participation in management de-
OF their employment No matter how
much control they exercise, it will do
them little good unless they find wider
markets for their products
Big Profits Not Easy
To hear some people talk, YOU would
think that it was about the easiest
thing in the world to hire labor at low
wages and sell the product at a h gin
price and grow rich by pocketing the
difference. That most men 1ali VINO
try this does not seem to impress these
people as matter of any Significance
it is perfectly safe challenge to issue
to any one who talks. in that vein TO
dare him to try to hire any kind Of
labor and get enough product to pay
the wages, saying nothing OF having
anything left over for himselm. How
ever it can be done and is done; but
it is done by exceptional men. These
are the men who are responsible for
the expansion of industry and the in
crease in the demand for labor. The
chief reason why our industries have
expanded more rapidly than those of
the countries from which our immi-
grants come is because we have a few
more men of this type than those coun-
tries have.
One reason why we have them is be-
cause we have encouraged them in the
past. We have respected the man who
could build a great industry, and he
has, therefore, been able to take con-
siderable satisfaction from the fact
that he could give employment 10 large
numbers of men and women. This sat-
isfaction has been an appreciablc add
ton to whatever money he was able
to make. Without exception, those
countries in which this kind Of an am
bition has not been encouraged, but
discouraged, are the countries from
which men have to emigrate in order
to find jobs at satisfactory wages.
Recent events in Russia and in Italy
are significant in this connection. 1t
is probably true that the Italian la
borers have learned wholesome les
son as the result of their recent at
tempt to get rid OF the very men who
had created the industries and given
them such employment as they had;
but it appears that the lesson has not
sunk in deep enough. The partial con-
troll which they continue to hold over
Italian industries is not likely to re
tard but to accelerate the rate of
emigration from that country. What
ever they may say verbally. by their
actions they say that they believe they
will have better chance in agcountry
where business talent is encouraged
than in d country where it is not. In
other words, they would rather come
to this country and work under the
much maligned capitalistic system than
stay in Italy and work under even an
approach to syndicalism.