While many of the provisions of the bill as it now stands are imperfect and unwise. yet the evil against which it is aimed is to my mind one which demands legislation. Voluntary immigration of foreigners who come here to improve their condition and make this country their home. immigration of men who land on our shores as freemen. at liberty to avail themselves of American opportunities and American wages. has always been considered wise and acceptable. Such immigration does not interfere with our protective system. which is designed to discourage the importatiou of the products of the cheaper labor of Europe and Canada and protect American industry and labor. because whenever a voluntary immigrant comes here free to make his own engagements on arrival and to become an American citizen he accepts not European but American wages and becomes identified with American interests. The evil against which this measure is directed is not voluntary immigration. but the importation of foreign laborers. usually in large companies on contracts entered into abroad. under foreign conditions and at foreign wages. It is the importation of men who come here without freedom of action after they land. to serve under overseers who control their movements for a definite job or time. without an expectation of making a home here and generally without wife or family. Such an importation of contract labor is contrary to a sound public policy. contrary to our ideas of freedom. and contrary to the best interests of our country. In the State which I have the honor in part to represent there was imported last year several hundred Italian laborers to construct a railroad at wages far below the American standard. They came not to become citizens. not to live as American laborers live. not to add their earnings to the wealth of the country. but they came as Italians. lived as Italian laborers of the lower sort. disturbed the peace and quiet of our State during their brief stay. and then left to return to Italy or to be contracted elsewhere by their overseer.
Keywords matched
immigration contract labor immigrant