The San Francisco call., 1905-08-16
KNOWLAND LECTURES
ON IMMIGRANT
Congressman Sounds Warning on DANCE,
of Influx Of Ignorant Paubers.
Anaunc Steamship Companies Are Said
to Oppose Resh1ctlUe LazUs.

ALAMEDA, Aug. 15.-Congressman j.
r. Knowland delivered an address TO-
night before the Unitarian Club upon
immigration. The Congressman made
a strong point in showing by flgures
how the East was menaced by Euro
pean immigration, while the West was
menaced by Oriental immigration, and
that each section had its dangers from
the influx of a foreign population. lie
said:
OF the various problems now confronting the
American people the immigration question ls
one Of the most serious. While 90 NOT unuet ee :
estimate the Importance OF the railway rate
legislation, tariff revision, the ratlhcatlon py
the Senate of pending treaties and other issues
now being generally discussed py ihoiNluuais
and press the immigration question is GER
tainly deserving Of as serious consideration.
| wish every merchant every mechanic and
States could find the time to carefully STUDY
the startling figures issued by the Sommls-
rainly furnish food for the most serious
thought. During the month OF April Of this
year l37, ,094 immigrants entered the United
States, daily average of over 4o59, an IN
crease of 45.I71 over the corresponding month
March 650.33T aliens landed upon our soil. an
increase Of over 100000 compared with the
corresponding period in 1894. For the nscal
year ending June. 1904. the total arrivals were
SD $40 an increase of over SOC, 600 compared
OF the Immigrants arriving during the fiscal
year 1904 It's, 903 could neither read nor write
and sol, $50 brought with them less than 500
cash. These figures certainly demonstrate that
our present laws not adequate to check
the increasing tide of immigration or improve
the quality OF aliens who are daily being ad-
mitted. During nearly every session OF con.
gress more stringent laws are proposed, but
powerful opposition from many or the great
Atlantic steamship companies has too fire.
Quently resulted in the defeat of needed legis-
lation these companies fearing that a profit
able source of revenue would be interfered
with. 1t has taken years OF patient and per-
MIA
the restrictive measures now in force, ana
unless public sentiment the most potent of
factors in shaping legislation, becomes thor
oughly aroused little Improvement can be hoped
for in the future.
OF the s12s70 immigrants arriving In 1904
over 600000 entered at the port of New York
and less than 10000 at Californian ports Re-
siding in this State it is difficult for us TO
fully appreciate the menace OF European i'm
migration which is brought SO strikingly home
to the residents of the Atlantic seaboard
gard to Asiatic immigration. California has
but nine Congressman. Pennsylvania has
thirty-two members of the House OF Repre-
sentatives and in that entire State. accord
ing to the Federal census of 1900. there are
but forty japanese Illinois has thirty five
members of the lower house of Congress. and
in that State the Japanese population Is but
eighty. Ohio contains but twenty-seyen Jap
anese. 1 mention these facts TO call attention
TO the conditions which the California delega-
ton in Congress is bound to face.
President Roosevelt is sound on the immi-
grafton question. In of his messages &c
Congress he these words: 1t is vital
that we should keep high the standard OF
well being among oqEF Tags syorkers, and
therefoue We should net dtnIt 3Eassses of men
whose stSRdards ofAiSiI1g and Whose personal
customs and habits are such that they tend
to lower the level of the American wage
worker; and above all should not admit
any man of an unworthy type" His words
certainly strongly apply TO the type of Asiatics
| against whom Californians are contending.
America has always welcomed the thrifty
and industrious immigrant who is anxious te
avail himself of the privilege Of American
citizenship and appreciates its responsibilities
But must call a halt to the. class which
cannot assimilate and which would undermine
our institutions.