Speech #620269503

Changes are constantly going on in Europe for the uplift of the men of labor. and it can well be believed that each country In Europe Is in position to solve its own labor questions In the vav best for itself. A fact now obvious in this country is that American labor and European labor have both been made the subject of a colossal bunco game played by avaricious exploiters of the poor. The sounding phrase. " protection of American labor." has of recent years been a standing insult to the Intelligence of the American wage earners with millions upon millions of newcomers arriving here through promoted immigration. Considering the opportunities now existing in Europe for the advance of the working classes. the net gains. on the whole. to be made by European immigrants to this country are to be questioned. The manifold acute sufferings of immigrants. their sacrifices to enable them to come to America. the trials of the ocean voyage. the discouragements of seeking work in the United States. in getting a foothold In the wageworking ranks. in the oppression they suffer at the hands of employers. and in their sickness and death rate. all of these drawbacks serve to counterbalance much of whatever success may come to them. Of the 30 or 40 per cent of immigrants that return to Europe. an enormous number go back. by the evidence of the commission. defeated. disheartened. ruined. The first annual report of the New York Bureau of Industries anid Immigration. a branch of the State department of labor. was submitted to the New York Legislature while in session. The year reported for closed September 30. 1011. The summary read as follows: In the matter of distribution of labor. that this State is without any machinery for distribution or supervision of private distribution agencies. except through a law administered by separate cities according to the standard and belief of each individual mayor. although a great part of the furnishing of labor is intercity and interstate. XLIX52 In the matter of transportation. that the combination of steamship agents. emigrant hotels. runners. porters. expressmnen. and cabmlen throughoutout the country. operating chiefly through New York City. forms one of tie most stupendous systems for fleecing the alien from the time lie leaves his home country until he reaches his destination in Amierica. and vice versa. In the matter of living and labor conditions in labor camps and colonies. that aliens are discriminated aginst in regard to housing. sanitation. food supplies. and employment methods. being denied the ordinary decencies of life. that in regard to labor conditions.. aliens are checked and tagged. almounts ordered by the padroni are dedncted from their wages without their knowledge or exprcss sanction. and exploitations occir iq hospital charges and the purchase of supplies. In the matter of industrial calamities and personal injriqcs. exploitation by lawyers and their runners and claim agents and collection agents bear heavily on the alien bccause of his aliensbip and international complications with his family and property in his home country.