Speech #640196253

It is to meet the demand for labor caused by this remarkable development of our industries that this influx of colnllmon labor has collie from eastern and southern Europe. These men are not objectionable. they are rugged. honest. frugal. industrious men. who have come here because in the old countries they were securing only the smallest wage possible. I remember vhen I was in Italy investigating inmmigration matters there I was. told by those in authority that down to the great exodus of Italian laborers to the United States the farm laborersin that country were geting only 25 cents a day -for their labor. but owing to the large number emigrating from Italy to the United States the rate of wage. had increased. and they wvere exulting in the fact that their farm laborers were getting 40 cents a day for their labor. Mr. resident. again -referring to the matter concerning which the Senator from Minnesota was interested. I have fonnd some statistics which throw light upon it. It appears from the census of 1910 that during the 10 preceding years the increase in the native white population of New York was 30 per cent. while the increase in the foreignborn population of that city was 52.9 per cent. New York is a type of the corninercial. manufacturing. and productive cities of the country Ill Chicago I find that the native white population increased 25.5 per cent. while the foreignboru population increased 33.4 per cent. in Philadelphia the Dative white population increased 15.5 per cent. and the foreignborn population 30.3 per cent. in St. Louis. the increase in the native white was 20.6 per cent. while that in the foreign.-born was 13.3. in Boston the increase in the native white populatiolh was 17.5. while that in the foreignborn population was 23.5 per cent. il Ciieland the increase in the native white population was 41.7 per cent. while that In the foreign born was 57.4 per cent. in Baltimore tle increase in the native. white population was 9.7 per cent. and 13.4 per centin the foreignborn white. in Pittsburgh the increase in the first class was16.3 per cent. while in the foreign born white it was 22.7 per cent. in Detroit the increase il the native white was 63.5. and in the foreignborn white 63 per cent. while in Buffalo the increase in the native white was 23 per cent. and in the foreignborn white it was 13.1 per cent. So that it appears from this table that a very large proportion of the increase of population in all of the manufacturing towns of America has been made up of this influx. of rugged. lardy. earnest. colmmon laborers from eastern and southern Europe. who have gone directly to the seats of the great basic industries. where they are living under conditions which tile conimission found were deplorable. They are.a thrifty class. but. unfortunately. they have largely come without families.