Although it scarcely hopes to succeed at the present session of
Congress, the American Federation of Labor has determined to start
efforts for the passage of restrictive immigration legislation, to
“start the ball rolling” so that at the next session the immigration
problem will be thoroughly discussed. Meanwhile the federation has sent
out to over half a million immigrant workers a circular signed by Samuel
Gompers, president of the Federation and Frank Morrison the secretary,
concerning the advantages of belonging to the union. The letter
concludes with this sentence:
“In writing to your friends in your native country advise them to
remain there until you, together with your fellow countrymen here,
have organized unions that will protect yourself and them against low
wages and long hours.”
This circular printed in twenty-one languages has gone to laborers in
the industrial districts of the East.