The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-22
Undesirable
Immigrants.

o"ohOAAhS w CAO A0OU GAoV
immediate legislation is need
ed for the purpose of restrict
ing immigration. For some time we
have heard much talk on this question.
1t was generally understood that con-
gress would take some steps in the
matter at its last session. It seems,
however, that bill drafted for this
very purpose was laid on the shelf.
During the past summer, some of our
best periodicals, notably Leslie's
Monthly and the Worlds Work.
have taken up the subject and pre-
sented it in its true light, pointing out
its dangers and appealing to congress
to lessen them. This is praisew orthy
movement, and if anything is accom-
plished much will be due the efforts of
the above named magazines.
One million people emigrated to the
United States from Europe last year.
AS the industrial activity of this coun-
try is steadily declining, it will be seen
this movement is unnatural. Seventy
per cent of these arrivals must be con-
sidered undesirable; for there were
23O,622 Italians, 2O6,O11 Austrians, and
136,O93 Russians who successfully
passed our immigration inspectors.
Statistics show that large families are
the rule with these people, in spite of
poverty and discomfort and the popu-
lation of these three countries, instead
of being affected by this emigration,
is steadily increasing.
| Loathsome diseases, are the rule where
these people come from, and altho the
examination and regulations are strict,
it is scarcely to be expected that these
ailments in their earlier stages are all
detected.
Competition between the large trans
portation companies is responsible to a
considerable degree for this sudden in
crease in emigration. Their agents
are everywhere, and anyone who can
produce the price of a ticket-any-
where from SIS to $25-is soon on his
way to this country. And even that is
not necessary, for tickets can be
bought on the installment plan.
Naturalization certificates, or copies
thereof, are used to gain admission to
this country by people who would 9th.
wise be excluded. Anyone who has
become naturalized, and who wishes to
bring some friend here, can for trifling
amount secure certified copy of his
papers. He then sends the copy to his
friend in Russia, Italy or Austria, and
the friend, by claiming to be the origi
nal owner, easily evades the immigra
tion laws. The papers do not beal
: any physical description or photograph
: by which the owner can be identified.
The many advantages of the United
States are peculiarly attractive to the
peasants of the countries named. They
have great desire to come here. If thu
peasant has not the money to come with
f: he can easily procure it by applying tt
his relatives or friends who have gon,
before. After they get to this countr,
if they are thrifty, they soon save {
goodly sum and quite proportion O
them return to their native countr,
and live on it. By far the larger ma
jority remain here, and in many in
stances help to fill our prisons ant
I poorhouses AS [ am an inmate o
I one of these prisons, / will not toucl
on this part of the subject 1 do no
] mean to say that the authorities ar
not doing everything in their power t.
weed out undesirable immigrants. 70
: they are; but with such laws as ar
: now operative, success is impossible.
: c. W. F.