Speech #620138152

I also desire to read a page from Dr. Jenkss book. with reference to the effect of this kind of competition upon the sanitary and safe conditions of the places where the employees of this country are employed: relative to the effect of recent immigration upon native American and older immigrant wage earners In the United States. it may be stated. in the first place. that the lack of industrial training and experience of the recent immigrant before coming to the United States. together with his Illiteracy and inability to speak English. has had the effect of exposing the original employees to unsafe and unsanitary working conditions. or has led to the imposition of conditions of employment which the native American or older Immigrant employees have considered unsatisfactory and in some cases unbearable. When the older employees have found dangerous and unhealthy conditions prevailing in the mines and manufacturing establishments and have protested. the recent immigrant employees. usually through ignorance of mining or other working methods. have manifested a willingness to accept the alleged unsatisfactory conditions. In a large number of cases the lack of training and experience of the southern and eastern European affects only his own safety. On the other hand. his Ignorant acquiescence in dangerous and unsanitary working conditions may make the continuance of such conditions possible and become a menace to a part or to the whole of an operating force of an industrial establishment. In mining. the presence of an untrained employee may constitute an element of danger to the entire body of workmen. There seems to be a direct casual relation between the extensive employment of recent immigrants in American mines and the extraordinary Increase within recent years in the number of mining accidents. It Is an undisputed fact that the greatest number of accidents in bituminous coal mines arise from two cases: (1) The recklessness and (2) the ignorance and Inexperience of employees. When the lack of training of the recent immigrant abroad is considered in connection with the fact that lie becomes a workman in the mines immediately upon his arrival In this country. and when it is recalled that a large proportion of the new arrivals are not only illiterate and unable to read any precautionary notices posted in the mines. but also unable to speak English. and consequently without ability to comprehend instructions intelligently. the inference is plain that the employment of recent immigrants has caused a deterioration in working conditions. Reading from page 190: The extensive employment of recent -immigrants has brought about living conditions and a standard of living with which the older employees have been unable or have found it extremely difficult to compete. This fact may be readily inferred from what has already been said relative to the methods of domestic economy of immigrant households and the cost of living of their members. Of course. Mr. President. the immigrant must necessarily come to this country. because the conditions of his own country. are not as desirable. wages are not as desirable. as they are in this country. But that does not meet the proposition of protecting the American laborer and the responsibilities which he has to perform against the competition of this itinerant element of immigration. Mr. President. our shores have always been a refuge for the people of other countries.