The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-17
ERRORS REGARDING lMMl-
GRAFTON LAW. |
Gen. N. L. Bonham Explains
MoOted Points in System
LAW misunderstood.
whether PurpOseIy or Unwittfngly
the Opponents of the Immigra.
ttou Movement are Mislead-
ing the People.
Anderson Daily Mall.

ADQersOn Ddlly MAIL.
Mr.. Editor: At Carswell institute
on the 10th instant / found in conver
sation with different persons that pur
posely or unwittingly the public ha
been given a wholly incorrect under
standing of the scope and purposes o
the act Of the legislature, passed at it
last session, creating the department o
agriculture, commerce and immigra
ton.
The idea has gained currency that
the purpose of that act is to flood the
State with foreign pauper labor. A:
one candidate said, 1.-The riff-raff Of
Russia as another.s said, "the scum o.
Europe" That this cheap labor will
usurp the place of the farm laborer and
will drive the mill hands out of EN-.
ployment. Whether consciously or
unconsciously, those who are teaching
sucn views are deceiving and mislead-
ing the people as to the purpose of that
legislation.
The law is found Oh page 449 of the
acts of 1904. The following extract
from Section 6 of that act shows with
out any sort of doubt what it was en-
acted to accomplish, and completely
refutes the misleading statements thai
have been made and are being made
"To promote agriculture, mannfac,
turlug and other Industries, cattle rails
ing and all matters leading to the in.
dustrial development of the State, with
the collection and publication of infor
nation in regard to localities, charac
ter, accessibility, cost and mode of utili
zalion of soils, and more specifically
to the inducement of capital and de-
sirable immigration by the dissemmi
nation of information relative to the ad
vantages of soil and climate.
There is a clear statement of the ob
iects to be attained and the methods
by which they are to be accomplished
viz: to induce capital and desirable
immigration, not " riff raft" and
"scum, " by displaying to the world
the incompatible advantages and re-
sources of our State, of which the world
is at present uniformed because of
lack of iudicious and extensive eX-
ploitation by us of these resources.
Now as to the character and class OF
immigrants to be brought in Sectio n
II of the act is specific. 1t is as fol-
lows: THAT immigrants shall be con:
fined to white citizens of the United
States, citizens of Irela"d, Scotland,
England, Switzerland, France and
other foreigners of Saxon origin"
That is, of the same origin as those
from whom we are descended, and who
came to America as emigrants. The
Italian, Spaniard, Slav, japanese and
Chinaman ar excluded by the terms
of the act.
Home-loving, home-making, God
fearing, moral, intelligent people,
with means to buy our surplus lands
and build houses and schools and
churches an become good citizens,
these aud these alone are sought to be
induced to come here, and no provi-
sion is made by the act to pay them a
bonus" to come, as has been widely
circulated.
Mr.. Editor, those who are giving the
people the wrong construction OF this
law are "sowing the wind to reap the
whirlwind." 1 have an abiding faith
and belief in the good common sense
of our people. AS Mr.. Lincoln said,
LOU uldy lOOl SolhC VI ChO PSSpiS
some of the time, you may fool some
of the people all the time, but you can
fool ali of the people all of the time"
They will look into this matter for
themselves, and finding that they
have been misinformed they will re-
sent it. saying, Either these persons
designedly misled US for their own ends
or else they did not know what they
were talking about. If the first, then
they have presumed that we are toe
ignorant to find out the truth and have
played upon our credulity. We will
not stand for that. If the second, then
they are not competent to represent us
Let them stay at home"
Now, Mr.. Editor, have no axe tc
grind in this matter. I am not can
didate for any office; but I have s
pride to see my country, one of the
leading counties in agriculture, II
manufacturing, in commerce, in fl
nance. take that stand in the councils
of the State to which it is entitled
If our people are rightly informed or
public issues they may be depended
or to vote right. M. L. Bonham.