Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-08-24


in the light of what have previously
said on the stump. The closest scrutiny
of my speech does not reveal word ad-
yocating the introduction of any people
other than agrioulturists.
The immigration law of this State pro-
vides (Sec. p "that immigrants shall be
confined to white citizens of the United
States. citizens of ireland, Scotland,
Switzerland, France and all other
foreigners of Saxon origin"
1t will be seen, therefore, that the OBJ
ject of the act is to prevent any except
the best people from coming here.
The bill provides for the selection of
worthy immigrants by an agent of this
State, and, of course, under the restric-
tions of the laws of this State, and does
not, and necessarily could not, impose
any regulations not sanctioned by our
Legislature and approved by our votes.
But let us see if immigration does not
actually benefit in great measure our
people engaged in manufacturing. When
production is adequate and we'll regu-
lated mill people have steady employ
ment twelve months in the year. Mills
cannot run regularly when the supply of
raw material is short, and the conse-
quence is that thousands of hands must
bc idle. Then is not the producer of
raw material the best friend of manufac-
turing people? Agriculture, like the
roots of tree, gathers it substance from
| the soil and distributes it through every
branch of industry. When it languishes
depression is felt in every household, and
when it flourisheth every department. of
business fourishes with it. The agri-
culturalist and the mill man work in en-
tirely different fields; they do not COM
pete, but the best interests of both de-
pend upon a proper care of the interests
of each.
The Federal law, Section 2, of act ap-
proved March 8, 1908, expressly pro-
hibits the importation of paupers and
persons likely to become charge upon
the public; it also expressly prohibits
the admission of any immigrant whose
expenses are paid in whole or in part by
any other person unless such other per-
son is relative already resident in this
country.
A study of the Congressional enact
ments on the subject of immigration
shows that the purpose of national legis-
lation was first to restrict the number of
immigrants, as in the Chinese exclusion
act, and later, not only to restrict the
number, but to select the best class of
immigrants by providing that paupers,
etc., should not be brought here, the
latest act being that of 1908.
One of the most serious blows aimed
at the South in recent years is the Crum-
packer bill, which provides for reduc-
tion of the South's representation in
Congress and in electing the President of
the United States. This act is aimed to
punish us for the disfranchisemen of the
negro. We can successfully fight this by
bringing here desirable white voters, and
this is one of the causes of the awaken
ing of the Southern statesmen to the
Importance of this question.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor, let me say
that | am in favor of everything that will
build up this country, morally, educs-
tionally and financially. / want to see
the Third Congressional District the
most populous, the richest, the most pro-
gressive section of the State; | want to
see South Carolina the most populous,
the richest, the most progressive State in
the Union; want to see the South the
most poweTul section of our country,
and want to see our country started at
tho forefront of the nations of the world.
Wyatt Aiken.