It even may be a close and doubtful question as to whether the men who mine the coal or the men who work in any other of the great basic industries upon which our great structure of production and commerce is built up should vote to stop. Surely. sir. it Is of vital importance to the people of the United States that the men who are to consider that question. the men whoi are to vote whether they will go on to furnish or will cease to furnish the supplies necessary to the continuance of our industries at large. to the continuance of the supply of the necessities and comforts of life--surely it is ofvital importance to usthat the men who are to cast that vote shall be men instructed. men who are able to read. men who are able to get into touch with the sentiments of American life. with the principles of American institutions. Yet we find by the report of the Immigration Commission that it is into those basic industries upon which all our industries depend that these new arrivals from southeastern Europe go. They go to the point where ignorant. uninstructed action may do the greatest damage. to the point where instructed and wise action is of the greatest consequence. Here is what th6 commission says: A large proportion of the southern and eastern European Immigration of the past 25 years has entered the manufacturing and mining industries of the Eastern and Middle Western States. mostly in the capacity of unskilled laborers. There is no basic industry In which they are not largely represented and in many cases they compose more than 50 per cent of the total number of persons employed in such Industries. And tomorrow. sir. the question whether the workers in our mnills shall continue to have employment. the question whether our furnace fires shall continue alive. whether the ordinary necessities of life shall be cut off.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants from southeastern Europe are ignorant and uninstructed, and their actions may damage the economy.