The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-09-07
TIE LOGIC OF IMMIGRATION
Why il is Expcdient to Increase South
Carolina 8 White Population.

lima passed model immigration act.
The only reasonable objection to it
was its failure to provide sum Of
money sufficient TO make absolutely
effective the work Of the department
created by it. This drawback has
been combated, however, by the alert
ness, intelligence and energy of Com
missioner Watson, the head of the
new department. In less than a year
his jealous efforts have resulted in
tangible advantages for South Caro-
lima fully repaying the expenditure
for his clnce and calculated to increase
in geometrical progression unless ad-
verse influences are permitted to in
tervenc.
1t is regretablc that such Influences
are cropping out in two or three coun-
ties Of the State as result either of
ignorance or of tle lowest demagogy.
For certain candidates for the legisla-
turc are reported 20 be opposing the
State immigration department on the
ground that its york will flood the
State with the ''scum Of Europe" and
with cheap labor for the factory end
the farm. The latter part of this ar
gument is a reflection, perhaps, Of the
campaign in Georgia which prevented
the establishment of much needed
immigration bureau on the absurd
ground that the railroads and manu-
featuring enterprises would be most
benefited by immigration-a cam paign
which in another direction in the same
State attempted to saddle eocialistic
machinery upon an immigration act.
The first part Of the argument, if hon
est, is due to ignorance, in that the
act creating the immigration depart
ment specifically confined the immi-
grants desired to white citizens Of the
United States, citizens of Ireland,
Scotland, England, France, Switzer-
land and other foreigners of Saxon
origin, thus debarring the department
from any activity among tho classes
usually identified with the "scum of
Europe but encouraging it to at
tract to South Carolina desirable
class of settlers for whom the natural
resources of the State are waiting.
1t is incomprehensible how any hon.
est man, thought fit by his neighbors
to represent them in the State legisla-
ture, can set his face against this sort
OF immigration. If there is any State
justifying work for immigration, both
because of its opportunities and be.
cause of its necessities, it is South
Carolina. A contrast Of certain facts
in Massachusetts and South Carolina
in 1900 will emphasize that. It
would be unfair 10 compare the two
States, inasmuch as the very forces
which made it possible for Massachu-
setts to accomplish SO much in ma
terial way have been directly militant
against South Carolina. Massachu-
sets, with an area Of 5000 square
miles, had in 1900 nearly 349 persons
to the square mile, while South Caro-.
lima had not quite fl persons for each
of its 10000 square miles. In the de-
cadc ended with 1900 the population
of the country had increased 2O.7 per
cent, of Massachusetts, 25 3 per cent,
and of South Carolina 1914 per cent.
In 1900 Of natives Of Massachusetts
3O7, 1872 were living outside its bord-
ers, but against this loss it had L.
202 ,257 inhabitants born els- here,
415, 1893 being natives of th tied
States and BAG, 1924 being fore Jorn.
In the migration of peop. IS Massa.
chusetts had thus gainsd 955, 125, or,
estimating the value Of the individual
to the community at 81 900, it had 8
profit of 1855, l25, 900: against loss
on the part Of South Carolina of s175,-
OGO,0OO, for OF the 1,513, ,634 natives
Of South Carolina living in the United
States, 234,062 were living outside
that State, in exchange for whom
South Carolina had received but 55,-
ZIG natives Of the United States and
5,52S foreign born, total Of ea,744.
The balance in the movement Of popu-
tion was 173, 1928 against South Caro-
lima. These facts do not. Of couree,
overlook the negro as an element in
this movement for South Carolina, OF
forget undesirable foreigners in Mas.
sachusetts' population. Nor are they
advanced in criticism Of South Caro-.
lima. The Manufacturers Record
knows too well the Ills against which