Today in Labor History Mar 26 Immigration Act bar entry by “paupers, anarchists, criminals, disease

March 26

San Francisco brewery workers begin a 9 month strike as local employers follow the union-busting lead of the National Brewer’s Assn. and fire their unionized workers, replacing them with scabs. Two unionized brewers refused to go along, kept producing beer, prospered wildly and induced the Association to capitulate. A contract benefit since having unionized two years earlier, certainly worth defending: free beer - 1868

March 26, 1910 - The U.S Congress amended the Immigration Act of 1907 to bar entry by “paupers, anarchists, criminals and the diseased.” Throughout the 20th century, immigration policy has been a source of controversy and a means for politicians to manipulate public opinion.

For more information
Visit the Labor Education Service's list of resources on labor and immigration, http://www.laboreducation.org/les/immigration_resources.php

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_03_26_2010