The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-10
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.
Joint Memorial Introduced In the AAous
NgI13g1 Of ~reReNtNtiv

Joint Memorial Introduced In the houss
~l-3gD OF Representatives.
The following 10 the joint memorial 10
congress on the subject Of immigration In
troduced by Representative Graves, OF Sill
YER Bow, in .he house yesterday;
"Your ~memorialist, tho legislative ~
sembly OF tho state Of Montana, respect
fully shows that tho increasing immiRrs-
tion into tho United States has become OF
suoh n quality a. TO call for r ndical and
immediate change in the laws which were
intended to regulate, sift and control the
same, While We would not bslittle the
quality or usefulness of former immigrants
into tho United States, nor declare thaS
certain portions of 1t ass not still OF value.
We are of the opinion that tho changed
condition of tho continent. and especially
Of our own country, ia auch as to make the
entire question a new one, as contrassed
with what il was In the last century or the
first half OF the present one; while
the improvement. extension and "a.
ducsion of expense in travel demand
q new consideration Of the entire question
without slavish regard TO former policies or
laws. No person should be permitted to
come to the United states to permanently
remain who IL not the raw material OF .
good Citizen, and from whom We may not
confidently expect the performance Of
CNOAy - -
should have some comprehension OF our
free Institutions and a desire to psrtakc OF
and support them, and to familiarize him.
self with the language and laws OF Shis
country. While existing laws on this rub
jeot are incomplete and unsatisfactory.
their administration Is still more unsatis-
factory. ana they are either in fact totally
ignored or enforced in u careless or per
functory manner
"Of tine aliens naturalized. and who are
required to establish as = probative fact
that they are attached to the principles OF
the constitution OF the United States. y II
certain not % per cent have ever read thaS
instrument or can tell what its principles
are. This ignorance of our language and
institutions renders them clannish and
makes them an easy prey to corporatlons
and other large employers OF manus labor,
who are theeby enabled to hire them at
much less than the current rate of wages,
and through their lack of ambition and
family association, and tho conditions OF
ignorancs and poverty from which they
have escaped. they are willing to work fol
wages which will not supi ort, even III de-
cent poverty. ordinary workmen. Thia
condition IL patent TO all obset vation. This
GLASS of people have come, and are coming,
in large numbers to our shores. and IN oul
industrial life they produce friction and are
u source of continual and increasing dis.
cord; az a result We have strikes. riots and
murder, and all business enterprises are sc
involved in uncertainty as to seriously i'm.
pair the industrial prosperity Of the coun.
try.
"But for this abnormal influence thus
thrust into our national development, your
Memorialist believes greater harmony
would prevail between employer and en-
ployes, and that each would enjoy greater
prosperity, and wages and profits would
alike increase. Such legislation ought not
to exclude those aliens who are OF suct
character and quality as to merge readily
into our social life and become crsditsble
and loyal citizens attached to our institu'
tions, but your Msmorialist asks for legis.
lation which shall require every immigrant
before taking passage for any part OF thiI
country with intent to remain here, to SHOW
the American minister. eonsul-Rsnerai, con
sui. or commercial agent of the United
States, resident in the country from which
he emigrRtes, that he 10 Of good mora
character, industrious, intelligent, and fru'
gal. and that he promises to become al
American citizen ia fact as we'll as in name
with a full comprehension of what 1t i'm
plies. No emigrant should be permitted
to land on these shores except on %prssenta
ton of a certificate issued under the au'
thority Of some of the aforesaid agents ano
We ask that such farther legislation shall
be passed touching the naturalization Of
aliens as will forbid that process from far
ther continuing a travesty on judicial pro-
osedings." Fl