The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-24
MIR. AIKE'S POSITION AS TO IMMI.
GRAFTON.

Al n II - AS M
GRAFTON.
Mr.. Editor: I have learned that the
national immigration bill, and my
speech in support of it, are subjects of
comment and some criticism in GER
tain sections of this district at this time.
Some of those who see "spooks" in
the bill claim that its purpose is to
bring in foreign element who would
compete with our mill people.
A large proportion Of Anderson's po-
pnlation is engaged in manufacturing.
They have made this county one of
the first in the South, and they de-
serve in great measure the commen-
dation of the whole people. I am op-
posed unalterably to any measure de-
trimental to their interests, but in the
spirit of fairness we must first be con-
vinced that such measure is detrimen-
tai to their interests.
Careful examination of both the bill
and of my speech on immigration re-
yeals not one lire indicating policy
which is in any sense detrimental to
the interests of mill people. The whole
tenor of my speech advocates the in
PRODUCTION of farm labOrers and farm
owners, and that, too, in sections of
country which are wasting away for
lack of sufficient intelligent white To-
bor to properly cultivate the soil. The
bill has no bearing on immigration
further than to guard against the in
f1uX of worthless immigrants, and to
provide means of selecting the best
amongst those whom the U. s. govern
ment has already admitted. While the
measure is an excellent one, and could
result only in good in selecting high
class population to take the places of
those who have turned from farming
to the manufacturing field, still it does
not and cannot compel any State to
take advantage of it that does not elect
to do so. In case State should elect
to avail itself of the provisions of such
law the bill requires that the U. 5.
government shall furnish the States
agent with quarters and such lnforma-
ton as will enable him to guard against
worthless immigrants in his selections.
The bill is in every sense dlscrlmlna-
tive and restrictive IN its provisions
and narrows rather than widens the
doors to immigrants. The fact is, the
good people who now operate our cot.
ton mills were once the main stay OF
our farming population and IN conse'
Guence of their change OF occupation
farm lands are idle and unprohtaole.
In many sections of the State we are
advancing in manufacturing, but it is
too often at the expense of declining
agriculture. The necessity for white
immigrants is not so apparent IN An
derson county if indeed it exists at all,
but Anderson county serves as splen-
did object lesson when it is compared
with other counties of the State which
have a thin white population. Our
land is owned mainly by small white
farmers who look to its preservation
and upbuilding, and the consequence
is if is three times as valuable CONNER
cially as that of counties less favored
in the matter of white citizens. Would
any man in Anderson county say that
the county would be more prosperous
| if half our white population moved out
of it? Would this not be CONSIDERED
an absurd proposition? Then 1t fol-
lows that county that has less than
half the white population per square
! mile is just to that extent poorer and
less prosperous than we are when on
that population prod duction depends:
| If Anderson county does not need
them YOU may be sure they will not
come here. If you do not want them
thew cannot occupy your lands. You
are not obliged to give them place.
Is it an open question whether or
not we need more white farmers in
Anderson county? If we do not,
which is by no means conceded, we
should not act the part of the "dog in
the mangern and undertake to block
the way for those counties which could
utilize to great advantage intelligent
Anglo-SaXon immigrants in convert
ing barren waste into productive
fields.
The bill in question is best interpret
ed in the light of what have previous
ly said on the stump. The closest
scrutiny OF my speech does not reVeal!
word advocating the introduction OF
any people other than agriculturists.
The immigration law of this State
provides (Sec. If 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
object of the act is to prevent any eX-
cept 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
own 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 well
regulated mill people have steady en-
plOymet,t twelve months in the year.
Mills cannot run regularly when the
supply of raw material is short, and
the consequence is that thousands of
hands must be idle. Then is not the
producer of raw material the best
friend of manufacturing people =?
Agriculture, like the roots of a tree,
gathers its substance from the soil and
distributes it through every branch OF
industry. When it languishes depres-
sion is felt in every household, and
when it fiourishes every department of
business fiourishts with it. The ag-
riculturalist and the mill man WORK
in entirely different fields, they do
not compete, but the best interests or
both depend npon a proper care OF the
interests of each.