The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

A Paper OF Particular Interest to That
Nationality.


A Paper OF Particular Interest to That
Nationality.
The address Of E. Berrum, of Seattle, on
Immigration, With Special Reference to
the Scandinavians and the Scandinavian
Countries was one of the most valuable
Of the convention. 1t follows:
AS a representative of the Scandinavian
element Of this county, and as one who is
greatly interested in the work now before
you, beg leave to submit few thoughts
on Immigration, With Special Reference
to the Scandinavians and the Scandinavian
Countries"
Facts will bear me out when I make the
assertion that the vast material resources
of this country could never have been de-
veloped without the immigrant. Since the
foundation of the American republic more
than 100000 miles of territory has been
opened up and developed, wealth beyond
measure has been brought out from the
bosom Of the earth, and railroads have
been built that now span the country in
every direction-to use borrowed express
sion. This great republic of the West. that
a century ago was in it's swathing clothes.
is TODAY the wonder of the world; the in
FAINT of 1776 has become a giant. And this,
gentleman, was alone made possible by
the wise policy adopted by the founder Of
this republic and the subsequent influx Of
population from the Old World.
A policy that proved itself to be so
fraught with benefits to the country at
1arge should not fail in it's ultimate results
to the Individual state if properly nur-
tured. We have met here to devise ways
and means by which the tide of immigra-
ton may be turned from other states and
countries towards this young and promis-
ing commonwealth of ours. And we have
met with hopeful hearts. To the tiller Of
the soil, to the skilled mechanic and to the
man Of means no state offers greater in
Eucements nor better rewards than Wash
ington. Its abundance of resources and it's
healthful climate challenge comparison.
Situated as it is in the most favored spot
Of the Western continent, with its produce
tive soil, magnificent timber belts, i'm
mense mineral deposits OF coal, iron, lead
tin, precious metals, and with its rivers
Sound and ocean teeming with trout, sal
mon. herring, cod, halibut and many other
fishes, whose food value is incalculabIe, it
cannot help but become the Mecca of the
foreign and domestic immigrant when
these facts have been placed before him in
the proper way and the true light
In view Of these circumstances, the task
before us should become a comparatively
easy one, and its success to "a great extent
dependent only upon the zeal and energy
we devote to it.
Important, however, as this question of
attracting immigration to our state NAV
be-. its future welfare is no less dependent
upon the class and character Of the people
who In the future may come here to locate
In this the foreign born citizen, who has
come to this state to make a. home for him
self and an inheritance for his children, is
equally concerned with the native born.
In this it is a mutual interest that is at
state.
When-T vour Mr. Nh iy-roor ~ ,,,a,.h.r.
of the convention, urge upon you as your
imperative duty to lend your support to
any wise measure having for it's aim the
exclusion of all Objectionable immigrants,
I believe it should meet with your hearty
approval. We have right to demand that
the man who comes here to enjoy the op-
portunities and advantages Of American
life should give as a compensation reason
able guarantee that he contains the prom
Use and potency of good citizenship. If he
does not, we do not want him, regardless
of whether he comes from the Emerald
isle or the rocky shores of Norway.
AS the first step in the right direction, I
beg leave to suggest that this convention
memorabilia congress to pass the bill intro
duced by the Immigration Restrictive
League OF the United States, and in which
the head tax clause has been omitted. The
measure as amended reads as follows:
Section 1. That section Of the act of
March 3, 1891, in amendment Of the immi-
grafton and contract labor acts, be and
hereby is amended by adding to the classes
OF aliens thereby excluded from admission
to the United States the following: All
persons between IA and go years of age who
cannot both read and write the English
language or some other language.
"Sec. 2. The provisions of the act of
March 8. 1893, to facilitate the enforcement
of the immigration and contract labor
No. cy,o ~
in section Of this act.
"Sec. 3. This act shall take effect three
months after its passage"
In support of this suggestion can do
nothing better than quote from the leading
Scandinavian newspaper Of the country:
eff such a law had been enacted years
ago the condition Of the country, especially
that Of the working. people, would have
been better than 1T is today. It is time to
call halt to the Importation of ignor-
ance. The proposed legislation should re-
ceive the active support Of all good citi-
zens, irrespective of nationality, and this
paper assumes, as a matter of course tina u
the Scandinavians will take the lead in this
matter and endeavor to induce other en-
lightened classes Of adopted citizens to fol-
low in their footsteps"
What we need-to use the words of rob
bishop Ireland at the convention in ST. Paur
lis men who will go to work, plow up the
soil, bring out OF 1t produce to feed the ma
ton, and, we may add, the world We want
men who will help develop the great nat
ura1 resources Of Washington, not mere
muscle and stomach, but manhood men Of
enterprise, intelligence and thrift: men
who are not afraid to wrestle with the Diff
ficulties, privations and hardships of pio-
neer life.
If we can succeed In turning that class Of
immigrants toward our state, then canitaI
will follow just as sure as water flows down
hill, and the future greatness of Washing
ton is assured.
In order to secure the most desirable
class Of foreign immigrants think starts
tics and experience will bear me out when
| I say that our sole field of operation should
| be northwestern Europe, and amongst those
nations the Scandinavians are pre-eminentIv
the ones most adapted for this state. Tn
Washington, with her hills and valleys.