Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER VII.

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS AND EFFICIENCY.

Opinions of coal operators as to progress of immigrant employees-Employers' statements as to efficiency of immigrant mine workers according to specified standardsThe use of intoxicants in its relation to efficiency-[Text Tables 217 to 219].

OPINIONS OF COAL OPERATORS AS TO PROGRESS OF IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEES.

The immigrants from Great Britain and Germany, many of whom were experienced miners when they first came to the Pennsylvania bituminous fields, have worked upward in the mining industry. The British already knew the language and the Germans soon learned it. Both classes of immigrants proved able to accept responsibility, and, with the expansion of the industry, advanced in the scale of occupations. This is even more noticeable in the second generation of these immigrants, and, as a result of the progress made, the mines of Pennsylvania at the present time have many English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, and Germans engaged as superintendents, mine and coke-yard foremen, and in other responsible positions.

In the case of the recent immigrants of other races, the employers, while quite naturally varying more or less in their opinions regarding the relative progress of particular races, are practically unanimous in asserting that, as races, these recent immigrants make less progress in the industry than did those from Great Britain and Germany. This is especially true of the first generation. Occasionally individuals are found who have become mine or coke-yard foremen, but they are few, and nearly all of them were young when they arrived in this country, and more nearly approached the condition of the second generation. The rapidity of the advance of races of recent immigration into minor positions of authority, such as those of boss drivers, tipple bosses, and similar occupations, is affected by the ability or inability of the mining companies to secure Americans and Scotch or German workmen for these places. This is harder to do at the more remote plants, and, therefore, at such mines more of the recent immigrants are found advancing into these positions. As already stated, however, this is due not to greater capacity on their part, but to the absence of many workmen of the first choice of races. In fact, the general feeling toward the recent immigrants seems tinged with the conviction that they are inferior intellectually to Americans, English, Scotch, Irish, and Welsh, and not adapted to supervisory work.

It is difficult to ascertain which races of recent immigration are making the most progress in the industry. Their advancement is rather by individuals than by races. The consensus of opinion, however, seems to be that the Slovaks, Poles, Magyars, and North

Italians are more progressive than the Croations, and that the South Italians are least progressive. Several reasons are assigned for the slowness to advance industrially on the part of the races of recent immigration. A considerable proportion are uneducated, and are thereby prevented from making any material advancement. All races arrive in this country without knowledge of our language, and, with the exception of the more ambitious younger men, very few learn it. At the outset this effectually bars the progress of the great majority of recent immigrants, not merely because ability to speak English is an advantage, and sometimes even a necessity, in order to hold most of the minor advanced positions, but for the additional reason that the inability to converse in English with the foremen and bosses prevents the latter from discovering the greater capacity of many immigrants, who consequently remain miners, coke drawers, or unskilled laborers. Few recent immigrants are experienced mine workers when they come to the United States. The majority are peasants from the farm, or other unskilled workers, and many must therefore learn the very rudiments of the industry at an age when special proficiency in any work is difficult of attainment. Moreover, it is often stated that, as races, the recent immigrants are more passive and submissive, and distinctly less ambitious and enterprising in efforts to better their condition than are the British or Germans. Members of the second generation of recent immigrants make much more progress in the industry than do their fathers. They learn the language as they grow up, secure some education, and seem more alert and ambitious. Those who enter the industry begin young, grow up in it, and many of them look forward to advancement and work to secure it.

In general, the native American of the better class is considered more progressive than the British or German immigrant and far superior to any of the races of recent immigration."

EMPLOYERS' STATEMENTS AS TO EFFICIENCY OF IMMIGRANT MINE WORKERS ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED STANDARDS.

An effort was made to obtain data as to the relative efficiency of the different races of recent immigrants when compared with each other and with natives and older immigrants, and with this object in view information was secured, by race, as to relative industriousness and attentiveness, adaptability, tractability, ease of supervision, sobriety, and the use of English so far as English affects efficiency. Owing to differences of opinion among superintendents and foremen, and because of differences in the racial composition of the labor forces of the different mines and coke plants, it is not possible to draw absolutely definite conclusions from the statements of mine officials, but the following illustrative opinions of a few such officials, together with a general statement deduced from the preferences of many others will at least indicate with some degree of accuracy the prevailing judgment of those in charge of the immigrant mine workers. In weighing the opinions cited below, it should also be remembered

a For a detailed showing as to literacy, see pp. 429-435.

For more detailed data as to the progress made by the different races, by occupations, see tables in connection with "Occupations entered."

that the mine officials quoted were passing on the men only as producers and not considering any other qualities.

As to industriousness and attentiveness, the superintendent of a mine which will be designated throughout this discussion as Mine No. 1, ranks his employees as follows, the first named being most desirable: Magyars, Poles, Slovaks, and South Italians. Practically no Americans are employed in this mine except in the higher positions, and in such places they outrank all races of recent immigrants. At another mine, which may be designated No. 2, the superintendent ranks his pick miners, loaders, inside laborers, coke-yard employees, etc., as follows, the first named being most desirable: North Italians, South Italians, Magyars, Slovaks, Croatians, Poles, Germans, Americans, Irish. Only Americans and immigrants from Great Britain and Germany are employed in places of responsibility. At another mine, No. 3, the superintendent ranks his workmen according to relative industriousness and attentiveness, as follows: Slovaks, Lithuanians, North Italians, Russians, Americans, English, Scotch, and Irish. In the higher positions requiring technical skill or entailing much responsibility, only natives or immigrants from Great Britain are employed and they far outrank the other races employed at this mine. In general, it seems that in the matter of industriousness and attentiveness in the rank and file positions, the recent immigrants of all races are considered better than the natives or British immigrants. Among employees of the latter races who dig coal or work in the coke yards, are said to be a number who are rather lazy and unambitious and who are less desirable than the recent immigrants. In industriousness and attentiveness the Slovaks and Poles are perhaps the best of the recent immigrant races, with the North Italians, Lithuanians, Russians, and Magyars about equal in desirability and the South Italians and Croatians less so. The chief objection to the Slavic races is their tendency to lose time and labor through periodic intoxication. The Italians drink less than the Slavs and are steadier workmen.

For adaptability, practically all superintendents place the Americans first, with the immigrants from Great Britain second, and the Germans third. At Mine No. 1 the races of recent immigration are ranked as follows: Magyars, Poles, Slovaks, South Italians. At Mine No. 2: Magyars, Slovaks, Croatians, North Italians, Poles, South Italians. At Mine No. 3 the ranking is rather unusual, inasmuch as the North Italian here is considered more adaptable than the British mine worker. The ranking is American, North Italian, Scotch, English, Irish, Slovak, Lithuanian, Russian. In general, the North Italian is regarded as the most adaptable of the recently immigrating races, with the Slovaks and Poles the best of the Slavs in this particular.

With respect to tractability, the Americans and British are usually considered much less desirable than the recent immigrants. This unfavorable opinion seems very largely due to the fact that the American and British workmen can not be so easily imposed upon by coal-company officials, but are prompt and insistent in demanding what they consider their rights, while the races of recent immigration, particularly the Slavic races, are much more submissive. At Mine No. 1, the recent immigrants are ranked in this regard as

follows: Magyars, Slovaks, Poles, South Italians. At Mine No. 2 the ranking is: North Italians, Slovaks, Croatians, Poles, Magyars, South Italians, Irish, Americans. At Mine No. 3, as follows: Slovaks, Lithuanians, North Italians, English, Scotch, Irish, Americans. The South Italians are ranked low, as a rule, because of impulsiveness and a tendency to violence. The Slovaks and Poles give little trouble, except when under the influence of liquor. This is also true of the Magyars, but they seem to be regarded as less submissive than the Slovaks and Poles.

In relative ease of supervision, the American and British and German immigrant employees always head the list. This is generally ascribed to their better intelligence and knowledge of the English language. Among the recent immigrants, the Slovaks and Poles seem to lead, and all the Austro-Hungarian races outrank the Italians. The last named, especially the South Italians, are considered to be less trustworthy and to require more oversight than the Slavic At Mine No. 1 the races of recent immigration are ranked as follows in relative ease of supervision: Magyars, Poles, Slovaks, South Italians. At Mine No. 2, Poles, Slovaks, Magyars, Croatians, North Italians, South Italians. At Mine No. 3, Slovaks, Lithuanians, Russians, North Italians.

As regards sobriety, the American, British, and German employees are better than those of recently immigrating races. Among the recent immigrants the North and South Italians, though steady drinkers, rank above the Slavic races, all of whom, beside being large consumers of alcoholic liquors, show a tendency toward intoxication. At Mine No. 1 the recent immigrants are ranked in this particular as follows: South Italians, Magyars, Poles, Slovaks. At Mine No. 2 the races in order of desirability are: North Italians, South Italians, Magyars, Croatians, Poles, Slovaks. At Mine No. 3 the order is: North Italians, Lithuanians, Russians, Slovaks. At this mine the Polish workmen have all been discharged because of too frequent intoxication."

In the opinion of superintendents, ability to use English increases the average efficiency somewhat, but the use of the language is not a prime element in determining a man's efficiency in the lower-paid and nonsupervisory positions. Lack of knowledge of English has little effect on efficiency further than to retard a workman's progress and to make more supervision necessary than in the case of employees who understand English. After an immigrant learns to do the work his production of coal is not affected by the language he speaks, but more time, labor, and money must be spent in teaching him to do his work than in the case of an English-speaking workman, and the range of occupations in the industry into which he can be quickly placed is somewhat narrowed. On being requested to specify his preference by races and occupations for employees in the industry, on a basis of general efficiency, the superintendent of Mine_No. 1 stated that for all higher places he preferred Americans. In the rank-and-file positions his choice is as follows: For the mine, Magyars, Poles, Slovaks; for coke yard, South Italians, Magyars, Poles, Slovaks. He asserts that if good steady Americans, English, Irish,

a For a more extended discussion as to the relation between efficiency and the use of intoxicants, see pp. 419-422.

Scotch, Welsh, or Germans could be obtained, they would be preferred above any of the former races, but adds that the Americans, British, and Germans available are less desirable than the recent immigrants. At Mine No. 2 the order of preference is: For higher places, Americans, English, Irish, Scotch, English-speaking Germans; for unskilled work, Slavic races, North Italians, South Italians, Americans, and British, of the class applying for work at this mine. At Mine No. 3 the preference is: For responsible places, Americans first choice, with all other English-speaking races second; for rank and file of work, Slovak, Lithuanian, North Italian. In this mine a few British miners are also considered desirable in the rank-and-file places to aid in instructing the immigrant workers.

As stated at the outset, these opinions can be accepted only as those of a few superintendents. Others will differ radically from them. It must also be remembered that these preferences are based solely upon the supposed worth of the men as part of the producing equipment—that is, as miners and laborers-without regard to their worth from a social or civic standpoint, and that consideration of their qualities from such a standpoint might lead to very different ranking. For example, from the point of view of a mine owner bent on cheapening production, a body of Americans who insist on proper and more costly ventilation and timbering in a mine may be much less desirable than an equal number of immigrants who would not make such demands; yet from almost any other standpoint the American workmen under such circumstances are the more desirable.

THE USE OF INTOXICANTS IN ITS RELATION TO EFFICIENCY.

In addition to the preceding statements as regards sobriety, it should be said that there is a very significant relation between the use of intoxicants and efficiency. The consumption of alcoholic liquors among the immigrant employees is exceedingly large and has marked effects on their efficiency. One mine superintendent estimated that his foreign miners consume an average of 2 quarts of beer a day each, as well as some whisky. Another superintendent stated that each week a carload of beer and a barrel of whisky were shipped into his town of 1,800 people, two-thirds of whom are recent immigrants. The table which follows shows the amount of beer and whisky ordered during one week from beer agents in three typical mining towns, and also the approximate number of men, women, and children in the towns, by race groups:

TABLE 217.-Quantity of beer and whisky ordered in three Pennsylvania coal and coke towns during one week.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« iepriekšējāTurpināt »