The age-herald., 1897-09-08
WORLD OF UNEMPLOYED.
N F. Thompson Seeks to Colo
 nize Them inthe South.
LABOR SAVING MACHINERY
Has Made Destitute Thousands Who Can Find Homes by the Colonization Scheme,
 Says Mir. Thompson,

N. F. Thompson, secretary of the Johnstowns Pa, board of trade, is in the city cn brief visit to his family, whom he expects to move to his north ern homie in the near future.
 Mir. Thompson is just now enjoying tire distinction of having attracted to himself in a prominent degree the press of the country both north and south, from 1ztters he has written to Phfadel- phia and New York papers in advocacy of colonizing the surplus labor and popu- lation of that section on the fertile lands of Alabama and the south. The move n1ent seems to have struck popular chord with both sections, and promises to become of great value to the south in general and to Alabama in particular.
 T must. in the first place,'' said MT. Thompson. thank the Age-Herald for its kind thoughtfulness in this matter. I will be pleased to give to the people of Alabama ard the south an outline of this movement that they may know its origin anad purpose mere fully perhaps, than hisiretolfore. Very early aftsr my work begun for the industrial develop nfent of Johnstown, which took me, by the way, to all the principles cities and eenters of thl5 cast, found an interest in the south which was different from what I expectad, and so I began to watch and study 1t more closely as my work progressed.
 Ut was not long until the idea pre- sented itse1f of doing something to util- i1a that interest," especially with the viaw of alike benefiting both sections. There we're thousands of good and true men all over the north whom l found displaced and out of work largely through improved labor-savfng ma chinery. These idle thousands wiire a menaee to the north though capable of becoming the best of citizens if they could once again become producers. The farm alone promised relief to this class and others who could find nothing to do, and whom under the most prosperous of conditions could not hope for em- ployment in any of their old occupa- tionls.
 Lands of the Pingree patch order promised temporary relief, but to the smallest number only, it was homes
 alone that could restore these to citi-
 zenship, and this idea was presented at
 intervals to prominent men, among them to Colonel Mcclure of the Phila- delphia Times, to whom I first sug- gested colonization of these classes on Alabama lands. He was in entire ac- cord with my views. Governor John ston was applied to, as well as other prominent abamians, and their letters have appeared in northern journals, giving the very strongest approval to the suggestion for such movement. The Philadelphia Times published my first letter with ctropp editorial conn., mendation.
 This was so well received generally, that a second letter followed to the Times and to the Press, both of which
 gave strong editorials regarding these letters and the suggestions contained in them. Then the press very generally took it up, both north and south, until today it is attracting very wide atten- tion. The letters that have come to me from private parties show the widest
 interest, and I am in no way disap- pointed in the outlook for the south. Practical results are as certain to come as the south shows a proper apprecia- ton of them. I believe regular organ ized companies for colonization purposes will follow from all eastern cities for southern development as soon as they are convinced that the south wants these people and are willing to treat the capital that will be needed to settle them with proper fairness and liberality. This is why the progressive press eff the south should show to their friends in the north that they appreciate the advances thus far made and will meet others more than half way. If this is done I s-n convinced that the south will no longer suffer for either men or money for it's development This colonization idea is the only one that will eliminate the tramp nuisance and avoid the col ored problem. There has been nothing to encourage any one to come who had not means to provide himself with
 home, as I have advised no one to come south to look for a job, knowing that all the ordinary avenues of busi- ness in the south were as we'll filled as in the north. This is what the move ment means, and it will become of very great value if properly nurtured."