The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-04-28
En- rori C07-e0+.
The immigrant.


grafton. 1t is not only of interest to us,
but is equally so to all nations of the
western hemisphere who are bidding for
settlers. This problem engages the at
tention OF economists who study its
effects upon the countries sending them,
as we'll as the consequences upon the
country where they locate,
Labor leaders interest themselves, and
the larger cities are waking mp to the
fact that their presence cannot be safely
ignored
1t is the subject of debate in congress,
and in both the English and Canadian
parliaments.
Canada, anxious as she is for immlgra.
ton, views with jealous eyes the rapidly
increasing number of her foreign immi-
grants, and is considering the auvisa.
bilty of restrictive legislation.
No nation has greater cause for anxiety
in this direction than the United States.
Our climatic conditions attract the ma
tons of every cline to our shores and,
certain of welcome, together with free
dom and equality before the law, they
are coming by the 100000 to avail them
selves of these privileges.
For many years those coming were of
a class of people that were of benefit to
whatever country they settled in, and
large percentage arriving to-day have
within themselves the making of good
citizens. Left to themselves, the proper
ton Of undesirable people could be easily
assmulated by our institutions, but so
long as transportation companies can
declare dividends by transporting these
people the question of desrability of
their passengers will never enter INTO
their calculations.
Our government, to a certain extent,
has tried to regulate the admission of
aliens, but so far their efforts have not
met with the success hoped for. The
constantly increasing number of immi-
grants from nations that furnish large
percentage of lliterates urges our gov
eminent to adopt more stringent meas
ures of regulation.
The record of arrivals for the year
1902 show the number of immigrants
to be GlS,7l3 and in 1923, S57,04G APP
plicants were admitted, but the year
1904 will be a record breaker. accord
ing to a recent report issued by the com
missioner general of immigration. The
al D., L.
approximate 100000.
If these immigrants were Of the type
that came TO the United States during
the first three fourths Of the century
Just past, there need be no caus, for
restricting the aliens. but when we see
that Of this vast number Russia, Austria
Hungary and Italy have contributed
5l5,j93, against 297 ,2I7 immigrants from
the rest of the world, we begin to appre.
ciate what this means to us.
The estimated arrivals for 1903 more
than equals the entire population of Del
aware District of Columbia and Florida
combined 1t exceeds the inhabitants OF
Maine, Montana and Nevada by nearly
100000, or would furnish to each Of the
states of Connecticut, Rhode Island
Oregon, Vermont or West Virginia a
greater population than they now have
Were these people distributed through
out the sparsely settled states, the men
ace to our institutions would not be sc
great as now; but 90 into New York OF
Chicago and you will find each nation
atty in district by themselves, follow
ing closely the traditions and customs o.
their native country. There is where
the greatest danger lies, and realizing
this the United States authorities ar,
endeavoring to divert this mighty It'd,
into other channels and distribute then
over wider territory. Many of tn,
southern states are organizing i'm orde
that they may settle in their states.
1t might be good business policy fo
Michigan if Governor Warner woulC
establish an agency at Ellis Island t
bring settlers into northern Michigan
where land is cheap and fertile, and eli
matte conditions favorable to people o
middle and northern Europe, and i'm thi:
the railroads would be ready to assist 10y
granting low fares.
The United States can never contro
this great factor in the growth of ouI
country so long as the system of allow
ing steamship companies 70 bring any
who may have the means of support fol
time, regardless of other qualifications
There must be a restriction at som,
point, and this can best be done by Civ
ing our consuls authority to determine
who are proper candidates for admission
on this side of the Atlantic.