The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-26
ire KIND Of Immigrants Vented.


/ Ex-Presidsnt Weihe. Of the smslga-
mated association. il his testimony before
/ the Senate subcommittee at Homestead on
/ Thanksgiving day, speaking of the labor
! difficulties IN the coal and iron mines Of
/ Pennsylvania, said:
/ Most of our labor troubles are caused by
/ foreigners who cannot speak the English
/ language, and are unacquainted with
/ American ideas, and who cannot be taught
! the highest duties Of American citi zenship.
/ l think the general government should take
/ prompt measures TO stop unrestricted I'M
MGR ton" Nearly all the labor orgsni-
cations OF the country have taken a position
against unrestricted immigration. They
believe that il our ports were closed
to all but thrifty immigrants, who are
home-seekers. and who, as a rule,
20 not 60 TO the mining regions, wages
would be higher. The conclusion they have
reached is undou btedly correct. The great
iron and coal companies have encouraged
the coming of class of immigrants that
are not only intensely ignorant, but who do
not care to become identified with the couu-
try. These immigrants cannot be assimi-
lated, because they live apart from the peo-
pie Of the communities in which they have
q residence, and their chief aim is to get
money enough to return to their native
land. There are tens of thousands of
these people in the mines and
mills Of Pennsylvania and other states
Not being acquainted with the laws nor the
language of the country. and being ignor-
ant and brutal. 1t is exceedingly difficult to
prevent them from committing acts OF
violence when there are labor distur Dances
The steamship companies also are largely
responsible for the coming OF immigrants
OF this class. They don't care what kind
OF immigrants come 80 they can make
money in carrying them. 1t is said that
they have agents in Italy, Hungary and
other European countries whoss only busI-
moss 1t is to urge the most poverty stricken
OF the people to sell their small possessions
and emigrate to this country. They exer-
else no discrimination whatever. All they
care to know is whether person has money
enough to pay his passage
There is feeling throughout the country
that we are getting too many immigrants
of the undesirable kind and there is a
steadily growing sentiment IN favor of ex-
ercising much greater discrimination in re-
spect TO them. There is no wish to lessen
the number Of energetic, healthy and intelli-
gem lmmigrants-those who give every
promise Of developing into cd and pros
porous citizens, but there is an increasing
hostility to the vicious, ignorant and semi.
barbarous people who have no love Tor our
institutions and who do not expect to be-
come interested in the country.
Either this congress or the next will I'M
dertake to deal vigorously with this question
Of immigration. There is not the same kind
Of sentiment with respect to immigration
that there was half, or even a quarter, of
a century ago. Then great portion of the
west was a wilderness. Now there is very
little good land that is not occupied. Still,
only beginning in the development of the
country has been made and there is room
for all the really desirable immigrants we
can get. There is room for them in the
south as well as in the west, and such im-
m grants are certain of q welcome. But
we have enough Of such immigrants as
Europe is anxious TO get rid of and the
pressure on congress to refuse admittance
to immigrants of that kind is going TO be
very great.