The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-01-12
CHEAPER LABOR"
CRY OF BUSINESS
u. S. Chamber of Commerce In Fav-
or of an immigration Law to Ad-
NIT LabOrers From Europe and
Asia
By PAUL HANNA
.derated Pes COrrespOndentl

Federated Press correspondent
Observation-Disclosures can draft an
Immigration law that will admit all
the cheap labor desired by American
employers, and still keep out all the
discomfort which comes and goes with
cheap labor?
A great symposium on the subject
is now proceeding in such journals
of opinion as The Nations Business,
organ of the Chamber of Commerce Of
the United States. The basis Of all
discussion is that he present immi-
grafton law must be changed; it IS
so nearly what the lnow-nOthings Of
Woodrow Wilson's administration
wanted that our reserve of unemploy-
ed workers has fallen far below the
'1evel of safety"
In the current number Of The Ma
tons Business one of these timely
articles in contributed by w. w.
Husband, commissioner of immigra-
ton in the department of labor. He
proposes that America 60 to Europe
or Asia for cheap labor in the same
spirit that we formerly went to Africa
to get it. In his own words the idea
is voiced as follows:
eve might develop administrative
machinery which would serve to in
vite those actually needed, whether
for farming, for industry or for any
other activity in the United States
We should determine not only the
need but also who are the most de-
sirable people to fill that need, an'
then permit them to come to the coun
try" *
In all innocence Husband would thu
put an end to the old theory of Ameri
ca as a refuge for oppressed people
and disclose our ancient boast o
freedom as no more than a rathe
shabby hypocrisy invented to cloal
the economic needs of the country
when it was still thinly populated an,
not afraid Of "agitators."
Only one thought troubles him, an,
that he seeks to cover when he adds
"This is not intended to sugges
wiping out the theory of the contrac
labor law but it must b.
remembered that even under that Law
skilled labor may be admitted unde
contract, provide labor of like kind
unemployed, cannot be found in tn
United States, and it is provided tina
the necessity for such importation
may be determined prior to the com
ing Of the people"
Simply expressed, that means tn
commissioner Of immigration woul
widen the joke placed in the act 0
1917 until it was big enough to admi
all the raw cheap labor desired b
American employers to adjust" tn
wage level of American workers.
Husband finds that he is not alon
in wishing to turn his back on tn
United States as it existed prior t
Woodrow Wilson.
"For a considerable period tn
United States has been experimental
with so-called Americanization move
ments. The war increased them, bu
a sober survey of the results woul
seem to indicate that the efforts mad
very little Roadway. Ny Observable
: has been that employers of labo
great and small, have as a rule as
sumed an entirely different attitude /
/. the immigrant since the war"
The difference, he makes clear,
: that we now look squarely at IL
alien as a work animal, with no MOI
nonsense about his human requir,
\ ments and right of asylum in OF
midst.