The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-13
Many Delegates Here for the
immigration Convention.
REMAINDER WILL COME TO-DAY
Big Meeting TO Form a state orgnniza-
tion-The Time Ripe for Concerted
Action-Ihe Delegates.


expressed A glance al the names OF the
delegates IS enough TO convince any think
ing person interested in such matters that
some good viii be accomplished. Every
delegate appointed is a representative man
in his section OF the state and will do ey-
erything in his power 10 perfect a state
organization. 1t is a well-known fact that
the transcontinental railroads are heartily
Tn favor of the proposition and stand ready
TO lend their cooperation The convention
is not only attracting attention through
out Washington, but the East as well
This is made apparent by the arrival in
the city on Saturday of II. A. Fisher. one
of the best-known railroad men in the Mid
die West and recognized authority on
immigration.
The convention will be formally opened
at 10 O'Clock this morning at the rooms of
the Chamber Of Commerce, and the regu-
lar session called to order at p. N. in
Judge Humes' court room in the superior
court. Citizens generally are extending
every courtesy TO the visitors, and viii
leave no stone unturned TO make their Wis
1t memorable one.
The number OF delegates already in the
city viii be largely augmented today by
the arrival OF others from points in close
State Needs Good Immigrants.
Among the visitors at the convention
will be Mr.. II. A. Fisher, for a number of
ger agent OF the Wabash road and Missouri
Pacific ard one OF the highest authorities
in the country on immigration. In speak
ing Of the convention at the Butler hotel
last night. Mr.. Fisher said: 81 think this
is one of the best moves the state Of Wash
ington ever made. What she wants is pop
ulation of the right kind; men that VIII
till her rich soil and make her possibilities
realities. During my long connection with
the Wabash road handled most OF its i'm
migration business, and know what can be
done In that line. My friends in the East
have often suggested that make trip 10
Washington, but it seemed could never
get away.
"a short time ago, however, I noticed
in your daily press that a movement OF
this kind was in progress, and for the first
time in twenty years having leisure time.
l made up my mind to come out and at
tend the convention. Edgar Ames, now
OF your city, Is a neighbor OF mine in st.
Louis. and from his glowing accounts OF
the future OF this state, and Seattle in
particular, 1 concluded to make the trip.
L have made a study OF immigration,
and have seen the good results of its
advocacy, and If desired l viii gladly
made any suggestions in my power. l had
no idea Of the natural greatness OF the
state OF Washington, and feel positive
l shall never regret having made the
trip
Time Ripe for Action.
Suggestions pertinent to the immigration
movement come from W. w. Sylvester. of
lssaquah, who says the convention Is a
step in the right direction. In 1880, 1891 and
1892 he was engaged largely in organizing
parties and bring them out to this state.
With headquarters IN Cleveland, he adj
vertised his excursions extensively, and
then went from town to town through
Nor lar rir<tny m q
says;
II was surprised to find how many
wanted TO come. thousands OF them from
that section of the country. In many OF
the small places even frequently found a
carload OF people who had heard of Wash
ington and were DESTROYS of coming: but
in the majority Of the cases the expense
was too great. In the case of men with
good-sized families, and those are just the
men we want, the expense would be sew
eral hundred dollars and a wagon load of
household goods boxed runs up to s75 or
". The expense is. 1 am convinced. the
great bar 10 multitudes coming. and some
arrangement shout be made for reducing
the fare one-half."
Thousands Would Come.
Mr.. Sylvester goes on TO say that with
out any advantage in rates, and with MOTH
ing but a through car and personally con-
Quoted excursions to work on, he frequent
" gathered carload of immigrants and
landed them here safely. After pointing
out that IL took u great deal of energy TO
accomplish that result he says:
But with the prestige OF q state COM
missioner or immigration agent, and re-
ductton Of one-half in rates, the right kind
Of a man could send us hundreds and thou
sands Of immigrants. The spring is the
time that more come than any other part
OF the year. and April is the best month OF
-. s.vfva nd ] 90
the day and the hour eyen-the first Tues
day I'm April, leaving Chicago on the night
train, Is the best run of the whole year In
my opinion the state ought 10 establish
headquarters in Chicago with good &C
tive. honest man In charge. Don't send
any OF our Western liars. u he goes TO
'stuffing' the people they win catch him
at H. He viii get more by giving II 10
them straight than he viii IL he stretches
Il. Our state vii stand a good, square,
correct representation and bring tha peo-
pie. too.
Rates Must BE Reduced.
Now for the most vital part Of all. Ar
rauEenents must be made for a reduction
OF one-half in fare. I am aware OF the
many obstacles in the way OF the rail-
roads doing this. even when they are so
disposed, but I think Il could be done by
making q half rate for parties OF City or
more. say Se5 from Chicago and 50 from
81. Paul and Missouri river points 20
Washington points. IL would not be nee
essary that they al have the same des-
tiuation. intermediate points would be In
cludea II Sc no easy matter 20 get fifty
people together 20 80 AZ one time, and I
think such means could not be used ~
any one outside OF the state agent. He
would have 20 advertise largely that there
would Re a party every Tuesday night, or
II thought best, every other Tuesday. be-
ginning about the middle 81 March. Those
Intending 20 avail themselves of the ar
ranxerent could notify him OF the earliest
OF the dates they could 60. sending a de-
posit as a guarantee. AS soon az he heard
from a sufticient number he should notify
them that the necessary number was Sc
cured.
Tits a long tourney-a change for a life
tfunA-au nd Il VIII stand lengthy pTcpara-
ton. There IL 10 doubt that with active.
energetic work large party could be got
ten OF every Tuesday. You must study the
situation carefully. lay your plans cor
rectfv and then follow them up vigorously.
tire. pay ell advertising expenses and
make wages. too. ! an confident from
mast eroerf4rce that ~ a man with a state
hack % him and hslf rates 70 help him out
vii launch out CT about these lines be viii
have immense success"
The Delegates
DELEGATES 20 the convention have been
APPOINTED BY Gov. NcGraw as follows;
A1aus-O. r Eolc0ush. BENJAMIN Mar
IN. " - Ree1er. RitzviIle.
Asots--TE. Z. Benedict. J. -. Began,
7 II. bingham. :. n Weissenfel.
ChehaIss-C- 2. white. Cosmopolis. Dr..
Y G. Hgi. E,mA: :. ". pivnolss. Monte
sa-o. q. G. Chase. Eoqula-n; T. .. Decke-
n -