Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-21
Commissioner Sargent's Advice.

they get II.
Commissioner Sargent's Advice.
While these are undesirable traits, there
is, nevertheless, a general desire to secure
Italian immigration, and the New Orleans
Progressive Union has issued a call for a
convention of mayors to meet in that city
at an early date, to discuss the ways and
means of turning the tide of immigration
into the southern states. This may do some
good. Not long ago Mr.. Sargent, commits
sioner of immigration, called conference
at Washington on the same subject, and
proposed that the southern states establish
agencies or bureaus at Ellis Island New
York city, for the purpose of furnishing
reliable and definite information concern
ing the opportunities for employment and
the purchase of land in the southern states.
He explained how desirable it Is to divert
immigration into that section and de-
clared that it is just easy to send peo-
pie to Alabama and Louisiana as to Ne
braska and Kansas; but that foreigners
knew nothing about the advantages of the
south, and there was no one to tell them.
He recommended, therefore, that steps be
taken to furn sh advertising matter in all
of the foreign languages and that informa-
ton agencies be established at Ellis Island.
But his recommendations have not been
adopted. Nothing has been done. The state
officials seem t. take no interest in the
subject. They have always depended upon
the railroads to do such work and pay the
bills, and it is difficult to induce them to
change.
Another plan Is to arrange with the
steamship companies to land immigrants
at New Orleans well at New York.
and the Progressive Union is now engaged
in negotiations toward that end The i'm
migration bureau at Shington has no
objections; the officials of the Illinois Cen
trail road have taken hold of the matter,
and as the government has no money to
erect a station Commissioners Sargent
agrees to rent one if the citizens of New
Orleans will build 1t in some suitable To-
Cality. 1t is now proposed to raise the
money for that purpose by subscription,
and the outlook is encouraging.
Judge Dickinson of Chicago, general
counsel of the illinois Central railroad, has
invited Signor des Planches, the Italian
ambassador, to visit the Italian colonies in
louisiana to see with his own eyes how
his felloW-countrymen are getting on in
this state and to confer with them and the
people who are interested in the subject as
to the best way to direct the stream of
Italian immigration from the tenement
districts of New York, Chicago, Philadei-
phia and other great cities to the farms
and gardens of the southern states. Judge
Dickinson also proposes to take the am
bassador through the different sections of
the south which are suffering most severe
" for want of labor and to those localities
where the best opportunities are offered for
truck farming and fruit growing. His eX-
cellency will have an opportunity to in
spect the manufacturing industries which
are gradually developing and offering en-
men and girls. 1t is expected that he will
report the results of his observations and
inquiries to his government in official
manner and also give the public his opin-
ion regarding the advantages offered in the
south for his countrymen.
Industrial Parliament Here.
1t is proposed to hold industrial par
Lament al Washington from May % TO May
g. to be attended by delegates from the
boards of health, commercial bodies, agri-
cultural and industrial associations and
other organizations, to discuss immigration
and other subjects relating to the material
development of the south. The governors
of several states and the mayors of cities
are expected to attend; or. at least to give
the assembly their sanction and support.
No doubt this is a good plan, but it would
be more practical to talk less and do more;
TO establish informal ton agencies at Ellis
Island, as Commissioner Sargent has rec
ommended; to distribute advertising mat
ter and send commissioners to Italy, Hun
gary and other countries from which hun
dreds of thousands of immigrants are now
coming No parliament is needed to get in
touch with these people; it is not necessary
to make any speeches or pass any resou-
ticns; Commissioner Sargent can fix that
will be expended by the delegates in pay
ing their expenses to Washington were
placed in the hands of experienced emigra-
ton agencies practical results might be ac-
ccmpliShed. Let the governors and the
mayors send commissioners to Italy and
Hungary instead of to Washington-picked
men who can talk the languages of those
countries-and let them carry with them
plenty of printed matter bearing the Off
cial Endorsements of the municipal and
villages and the towns from which the i'm
migrants come.