CHAPTER VI.

INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER EFFECTS OF IMMIGRATION UPON THE COMMUNITY.

Industrial effects of the employment of immigrants-Diseases peculiar to immigrants-Observance of health regulations-Charity.

INDUSTRIAL EFFECTS OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF IMMIGRANTS.

The presence of skilled or even unskilled immigrant labor has had very little effect upon the establishment of the glass bottle plant in this locality, as this plant employs comparatively few laborers, and the personnel of its employees is composed largely of the overflow and the cast off of the other plants. In the case of the chimney plant, while Americans were employed to a very large extent at the beginning, skilled Belgian and French glass workers were secured as the plant was enlarged; so that it may be said that immigrants aided to a considerable extent in the establishment of this plant, especially since hand methods were employed altogether. In the case of the plate-glass plant, however, skilled Belgian, French, and English glass workers were necessary to start the plant, as stated by the employer. During the whole period of hand methods, the plant has been largely dependent upon this class of immigrants for skilled workers. The same reliance upon immigrant labor has also been evidenced after machine methods were introduced. As pointed out. elsewhere, after the break with the glass workers' union occurred, and the use of machinery became general, it was impossible to secure native labor, especially in the unskilled occupations. Throughout the history of the plants here, the substitution of native labor in unskilled work and to some extent in skilled work by immigrants has been a fact so clearly marked as to be distinctive. The reliance of the industries upon the immigrant labor supply is thus plain. In general, therefore, it may be said that the immigrants in their capacity of laborers, materially aided in the establishment of the glass industries in this locality, and on account of the scarcity of native labor, as materially aided in the carrying on of the industry. The community itself came into existence almost entirely on account of the establishment of the glass plants, and the leading part that immigrants have played in the history of the industry is markedly reflected in the composition and character of the community as a whole. No effect has been noted upon the methods and hours of work according to the statements of the employers. Very little effect upon industrial organization of the plants seems to have been noticed. To some extent in the plate-glass plant Italian, Belgian, German, and Slovak foremen have been employed because of their adaptability to the work of dealing with unskilled foreign labor of their own race. In the case of Italians and Slovaks this has resulted in a predominance

of the respective races in certain "labor gangs. In the chimney plant, however, the policy of carefully mixing races in occupation and location has been adapted because of the belief that better results are obtained in efficiency.

From the standpoint of the native and foreign organized labor, the presence of the southern European immigrant laborer has affected the organization of the work of the plant by enabling the employers to hold out in their stand against the glass workers' union. Statements from representatives of the former class were made to the effect that the Slovak, Italian, Magyar, and Pole were the means by which the employers were able to break up the unions. This seems to be undoubtedly true. During the labor difficulties, which are discussed elsewhere, the immigrants from Austria-Hungary and Italy were used as strike breakers and together with the natives formed 90 per cent of the force which finally supplanted the skilled hand workers under the hand work régime. In this sense, therefore, the presence of a certain class of immigrant had a considerable effect upon the organization of the work of the plants and of the industry. Although the availability of the Slovak, Italian, Magyar, and Polish immigrants made possible the reorganization of methods from a handwork basis to a machinery basis, it can not be said that they caused the introduction of machinery. According to the opinion of the employers, the introduction of machinery was a step demanded in the development of the industry and the presence of the races of immigrants named above merely enabled the introduction of machinery to take place more rapidly and more easily.

DISEASES PECULIAR TO IMMIGRANTS.

There is little evidence in the community of diseases or health conditions peculiar to the immigrants from England, Belgium, France, and Germany, which are not common among the natives. Among Slovaks, Russians, and Italians, however, the following conditions have been observed:

(a) Typhoid fever, granulated eyelids, and pulmonary tuberculosis are more frequent among Slovaks and Russians than among the Italians or Poles.

(b) A tendency toward pneumonia has been observed among members of all races employed in the glass plants.

(c) Diseases resulting from excessive drinking, and venereal diseases occur less frequently among the foreign races, as a whole, than among the Americans.

(d) Complications resulting from lack of attention at childbirth frequently occur among Slovak women, which have not been observed in the case of any other race.

In general, the living conditions found among the Germans, Belgians, French, and English, are about the same as among the natives. In the opinion of the physicians in the community, the power of resisting disease on the part of these races is as great, if not greater, than that of the natives. The causes assigned for the prevalence of diseases among the races from southern and eastern Europe are grouped as follows:

(a) In general, their power of resisting disease is much less than that of the natives.

(b) The tendency toward tuberculosis, granulated eyelids, and typhoid are caused almost altogether by bad living conditions among Slovaks and Russians. These races are stated to be less able to resist disease than the Italians and Poles. It is believed that tuberculosis also results, to some extent, from the dust in the mixing rooms in the glass factories.

(c) The tendency toward pneumonia among the glass workers is believed to be due to the sudden changes in temperature occasioned by the sudden passing from hot blowing rooms into the cold air.

(d) It is the universal opinion of the physicians interviewed that the North Italians are superior, from a standpoint of cleanliness and hardiness, to the South Italians.

(e) Physicians agree that the Slovaks and Russians are difficult patients, usually neglecting themselves until they are quite ill, and when reaching that condition, are utterly helpless, refusing to speak or take medicine, but at the same time disobeying physicians' orders with reference to food and care. The Italians, on the other hand, particularly those from northern Italy, are very quick to seek medical aid, and follow the physicians' instructions without persuasion. The result is that the Slovaks and Russians, through their unreasoning ignorance or unwillingness, are subject to more serious diseases than the other races.

(f) The cause of complications arising from childbirth among Slovaks is their tendency to employ inefficient midwives. Rarely are physicians called in. Of the other races, exclusive of Belgians, French, English, and Germans, who do not differ from the natives in this respect, the Russians and Poles are next to the Slovaks. Italians, on the other hand, employ physicians in almost every instance.

OBSERVANCE OF HEALTH REGULATIONS.

The municipal government of Community A has no health reguations of its own, and the Pennsylvania state laws are the only regulations observed. Considerable difficulty is experienced in enforcing these regulations, especially those relating to sanitary conditions. They are enforced to a certain extent, however, except in cases of congestion in boarding houses, where little effort is made. to carry them out. The greatest trouble is experienced with Slovaks and Russians, and to a less extent with the Italians. The Poles give less trouble than any of the southern European races. A lack of obedience to health regulations on the part of the immigrant races has been noticed. Little care is exercised in the use of drinking Water. The river water has been condemned by the health authorities for several years, and it is noticed that all of the southern European races and Russians have begun using well and spring water for drinking. No more difficulty in enforcing the health laws has been experienced in the case of the Belgians, Germans, French, and English than with natives, and in some cases even less.

CHARITY.

No system of organized charity exists among the immigrants or their churches. In the case of new immigrants who are in need of assistance when they enter the community, collections are frequently

taken up to help them among neighbors of the same race. Money is loaned to immigrants by foreign bankers upon security of land owned by them in their native lands, but this, of course, can not be termed charity. The need for charity, however, among the immigrants is almost entirely removed by the work of the benefit societies, which are supported by the foreign religious organizations. Some charitable work is done by the native American churches through the committee for the poor of the ministers' association, but the larger part of their activities are confined to native and English families and individuals. In order of attention received from native churches Americans are first, English second, Slovaks third, and Italians fourth. It is stated that the English, although few in numbers, are often in need of assistance, because they (1) have large families, (2) are accustomed to a lower standard of living than they get in this country, and (3) are in the habit of receiving charity. Another reason why the English receive greater attention in this regard than the other foreign races is because they are brought into closer association through the medium of a common language, and like interests.

CHAPTER VII.

IMMIGRANT SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

Immigrant benefit societies Social organizations Immigrant churches-Parochial schools-[Text Tables 141 to 143].

IMMIGRANT BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

The table presented below embraces a tabulation of all statistics, obtainable in Community A, concerning immigrant benefit and insurance societies. The data were secured from officials of the several societies and from priests in charge of the different parishes and are presented on the authority of these persons.

TABLE 141.-Information concerning immigrant benefit and insurance societies in Community A.

Only allowed to shareholders purchasing $100 or more during year prior to sickness.
Recently granted. Plans undecided.

All of the societies mentioned in the above table are branches of national or other societies, with the exception of the Rochdale Fund. The Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic societies are branches of or closely affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society; the Slovak societies are all connected with the National Slavish Society; while the other societies are under a similar control. Definite reasons for the large number of different organizations existing in the community could not be secured; but the differences among the immigrants in religious beliefs, and those arising from