IMMIGRATION. 255 



meet in turn the competition of the thousands of the same caliber and 

 often of the same race, who follow close on their heels; demoraliza- 

 tion results and wage reduction is inevitable. 



The establishment here of foreign standards of living is unques- 

 tionably detrimental. The immigrant is tempted by the wages paid 

 laborers here, which are four or five times greater than those paid 

 laborers in Europe; but when he lands here he finds that not only is 

 the class of food which he used in Europe more costly, but that he 

 must increase his dietary to enable him to perform the work required 

 of him. To withstand the strenuous effort, and the output of energy 

 essential to American industrial life, the alien requires meat and other 

 nutritives, in addition to the fruit and vegetables which sufficed for 

 him at home. If he does not thus fortify himself for the struggle he 

 will break down under the strain. The standard of living among im- 

 migrants is of course below American standards, but it is being con- 

 stantly elevated, with a rapidity, among our alien population as a 

 whole, in inverse ratio to the increase of yearly arrivals. Among indi- 

 vidual families the elevation of the standard of living keeps pace with 

 their Americanization and their success in life. The immigrant's 

 daily contact with Americans, coupled with the ideas absorbed by his 

 children in American schools, is a potent factor in raising this stand- 

 ard. 



