The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-06
NATIONAL CONFERENCE WAS
OPENED IN NEW YORK CITY
THIS MORNING.
DELEGATES From Twenty Six States Are
in Attendance-Many Civic
Bodies Represented.

NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-The national
conference of representatives of the
various state governments and varl-
Gus civic organizations, to consider the
question of immigration, which was
called by the national civic federation
opened here today with a large at
tendance Delegates appointed by the
governors of twentysix states are in
attendance, besides several hundred
representatives of civic organizations
in all parts of the United States have
come together to consider important
questions relating to various phases of
the immigration problem. Every
state and territory is represented and
among the delegates are some of the
most distinguished men of their re-
spective Localities.
This morning the delegates visited
Ellis Island, where they were enter
tanned at luncheon by Commissioner
Watchorn. The delegates submitted
to the examination to which emf
grants are subjected upon their arri-
val in this country and then witnessed
the disposition Of about five thousand
immigrants.
The conference will last two days
and will discuss the following ques-
tons: What is the character of the net
increase in the population Of the Unit
ed States from immigration? Should
existing legislation looking to the ele-
walton Of this character through the
exclusion of undesirable elements be
extended and made more effective?
Should there be any change in the
system of inspection, such as having
it made at ports of departure or at
the home sources of emigration, or at
both? Are there any external infu-
ences tending to stimulate the volume
of immigration? What are the nature.
extent and locality of the demands in
the United States for more labor.
What domestic industries and what
labor crafts are most affected by the
influence of alien labor, and in what
way? What percentage of European
immigration remains in the ports of
arrival such as New York, Boston
Philadelphia and Baltimore? What
practical methods can be devised of
distributing immigration, especially
for agriculture, to points where it may
be needed? What further methods can
be devised for improving the condi-
tons, both of housing and employ
ment, of aliens congested in large
cities? What will be the effect of the
distribution of large numbers of i'm
migrants in the south upon the prob
lem of industrial education and social
betterment of the negro race? Should
the exclusion OF Chinese coolie labor
be made more rigid and should it be
extended to Japanese and Corean la
Dor? How shall the admission Of ex-
empted classes of Asiatics. such as
scholars merchants and tourists be
regulated?
Nearly one entire day will be de-
voted to the consideration of the Chi
nese exclusion problem The discus
sion of that subject will be opened by
Secretary of War Taft, who will he
followed by A. L. c.. Atkinson, presi-
dent of the territorial board of Immi-
grafton and secretary of Hawaii.
Among the prominent delegates who
Will address the conference are Sec
rotary Taft, United States Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, Governor Frank
Higgins of New York, Governor Chas
S. Deneen of Illinois; Governor Joseph
w. Folk, of Missouri Senators S. B.
Mcfrary Of Louisiana and VIM. A.
Clark, of Montana; Andrew Carnegie.
Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Charles H.
Fowler. James J. Hill, Oscar S. Strauss
and John Mitchell, August Belmont.
samuel Gompers, Seth Low Warren s.
Stone and DR.. Charles w. Eliot.