Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-30
QUESTION Of Immigration
TAKEN UP BY THE NATIONAL CROA-
TIAN SOCIETY
AND THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED
Cases of Croatian Immigrants Arriy-
ing in the Last Two Years Report
ed BY the DeIeEates-WilI Adopt
Resolutions - Special Committees
Appointed-Intcrvi With One of
the High oRcers.

AT the National Croatian convention at
Mozart Park the time was principally
devoted TO discussing immigration and it
was decided TO adopt suitable resolutions
A special committee will report later in
the week.
There is considerable important business
yet 10 be taken up and an officer stated
last evening that it is not known when
the meeting will close.
In the morning a committee OF seven
was appointed TO revise the bylaws. Re
marks were made by a number OF the
delegates for the good OF the order.
A motion carried TO appoint the commit
tee to draw up a resolution protesting
against the reported mistreatment of Gro
attain immigrants in the last two years 1t
was stated that 'in July. 1899. is Croa-
tians immigrated to Rathburn, Iowa, and
when they reached that place Joined a To-
cal of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea; that eighteen days after their arrival
several immigrant inspectors called upon
them there and took them from their
work, not giving them an opportunity TO
see their friends or change their cloth
ing, put them in chains and sent them to
Chicago on the first train, simply be-
cause the immigration authorities sus-
pected that they had come TO this country
under contract" 1t was also said that
relatives and friends OF these Croatians
hearing of the incident, at once began an
investigation and made request OF the
secretary of the treasury. Lyman D. Gage,
to defer the deportation OF these men and
also to give them a hearing" 1t was
treasury complied with this request; an
attorney was sent to Washington in be-
half of the men with affidavits, showing
that no man could get work in the mines
OF Rathburn, Iowa, under a contract OF
any kind, but he had to be a member of
the mine workers union. These efforts on
the part of the mems relatives and
friends. it was reported, proved of no
avail and the eighteen men We're deported
to Croatia" 1t was further said that
other Croatians had been subjected to
similar treatment, and therefore that tho
resolution should be presented to the
President of the United States, with a
view Of securing treatment for Croatian
immigrants as just as that shown to the
immigrants from other nations"
Officers of the order will endeavor to
secure citizenship papers for natives of
Croatia under the recognized nationality
of Croatia instead of Austria, as Croatia
is separate kingdom in Austria, and the
emperor Of Austria is also the king of
Croatia
A. G. Jankovic. recording secretary Of
the supreme lodge, stated that TN the
last two years many injustices were
| shown to the Croauans, especially by the
immigration authorities, and in several
instances they had made public state
ments that the Croatian immigrants are
undesirable" He said that He Is an
American citizen of Croatian descent and
knows that the Croatians who come TO
this country are the best working craft
Of their native country: that to blemish
them as undesirable immigrants is a great
injury TO them. He stated that they are
law-abiding and never have to apply for
admittance to State institutions: that If
the two hundred thousand or more Croa-
tians in America at present. there is not
one to be found in jail"
Continuing. he said that the citizens Of
Wheeling would therefore readily see that
they are honest and industrious"
An outing will be given at Mozart Park
Saturday evening.