The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-10
GOVERNOR JELKS GIVES
 VIEWS ON IMMIGRATION
He Favors Intelligent Effort to Bring Citizens to Alabama, But Would Not Ap-
 prove Special Classes.

poned for lack of sufficient labor to properly operate 1t. "The cotton mills are suffering. The agricultural sections are also feeling the scarcity of labor. The steady em- ployment and cash wages of the cities
 have attracted the negroes from the farm lands to such a degree that thous- ands of acres of fertile lands-large plantations in the agricultural sections of Alabama--are lying absolutely idle. Tn this manner the subject has forced Itself upon the attention of our citizens. As a result. there Is a general stirring in the immigration forces all along the line
 "The Alabama Commercial and Indus trial Association has a permanent con- | mittee of seventeen upon immigration, made up of an influential member of | every club identified with the organi- | zation. The chairman Is F. J. Thomp ] son, leading real estate agent and President of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville.
 "The railroads entering Alabama have 1 established an Immigration and Indus- | trial Bureau at Birmingham in charge
 of Ross c. Smith as commissioner, for
 the express purpose of.fostering immi- | grafton to Alabama.
 | Recently a conference was called in Birmingham of men who were inter |
 of fifteen was appointed to organize an Alabama Immigration Association. | There have been some differences in opinion as to the character of immigra-
 tion to be invited. A sentiment existed | in some quarters for a while that Ala
 bama could afford to let down the bars
 and invite anyone to come. paupers
 illiterates. etc-just so they could
 work. The Alabama Commercial and
 Industrial Association has steadily | maintained that only the highest class
 of immigrants should be sought, those
 from the north of Europe preferably.
 Tt was. therefore. gratifying to note l that Governor Jelks Is in hearty accord with this idea Probably no man in the
 State has given the immigration ques-
 tion more intelligent consideration than the Governor. He realizes the needs of l the State and has determined to do something to relieve them in a practical way.
 | Tn recent conferences between of- ficers of the Alabama Commercial and Industrial Association and Governor
 Jelks, he has made it plain that when
 furnished with satisfactory lands for l colonization purposes, he will send rep- | resentatives north or to Europe to in- vite immigration to Alabama. Some of | these w'II donnttee"
 some will start truck gardens. orchards.
 dairies, etc., while others will prefer direct employment in the industrial en- | terprises of the State. There is ample room and need for all. ia ''The Governor states positively that
 whatever Is expended in this way will | not be turned over to any committee
 or organization, but will be expended | by the State itself. He is also deter
 mined that only the best class of im-
 migrants shall be invited. His views | ktn MtfParfa6 fha af- tention and commendation of students
 of the immigration problem in other | States.
 'The subject of immigration to Ala I bama will occupy a prominent place on the program for the eleventh annual
 meeting of the Alabama Commercial | and Industrial Association at Decatur Immigration Problem will be the sub | feet of an addresc by Robert Dec. Ward | of Cambridge. Mass. who is coming to
 Alabama for this express purpose. MT | Ward has been for years close student l of immigration affairs and his address
 will attract widespread attention. In a recent letter to the Alabama Commer- | cial and Industrial Association, he says: "T have read with interest the news | paper notices of Governor Jelks's posi- | ton on the immigration question He seems to me to have sound, sane and reasonable views on immigration. arsi I congratulate Alabama upon having so excellent a Governor
 "Congressman Oscar W. Underwood will lead the after discussion at Deca-
 tur upon this subject. Mir. Underwood
 has been actively. identified with the immigration question in Congress and in the session before the last succeeded in passing a bill through that body: ap- plying an educational test to immi- | grants, which would have decreased 65 per cent of the class coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, but af- fected only per cent of those coming | from Northern Europe.
 "Others vitaliy interested in this l question will be on hand and valuable | results will be secured. The State As
 sociation is in entire sympathy with the views of Governor Jelks upon the i'm migration question and will support
 him in his effort to carry them out in a l practical manner.