The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-31
JELkS EXPLAINED
 POSITION OF STATE Something Over $3000 Avalla- ble for Securing Immigrants COMMITTEE SAW HIM
Plans of Alabama Immigration Asso- citation Must he E'sfinite and Prae,ieas'' in Order to
 Secure aid of State.

AL Biount Springs Saturday night ( ernor Jelks made it clear to q eommi or the Alabama State Immigration al s# citation that he would use 5000 of states contingency fund to carry forward the work of obtaining desirable immi- grants for the agricultural development of Alabama
 The committee. consisting of Mai. F. Y. Anderson Y. H. Motion and J. B. Babb of Birmingham; R. A Mitchell of Ala bama City and Samuel Friedman of Tus- caloosa, called on the Governor Saturday evening and drew his attention to the subject of immigration
 In reply, Governor Jelks stated, in elab- orated form, the views on immigration he made public few days ago in an in- terview printed in The Age-Herald. He agreed that the state was in need of im- migration, and insisted, first, that the immigrants to be sought be desirable. and. second, that definite practical plans be formulated before the work of obtaining the immigrants begins
 Tells of Interview.
 J. B. Babb, secretary of the Commercial club and also secretary of the Alabama Immigration association, had this to say last night regarding the conference at Blount Springs:
 Governor Jelks received the commit- tee graciously and listened attentively while the subject of the conference was discussed. There can be no doubt that the Governor has given the question of immigration serious and intelligent con- sideraton and that he is ready and eager to cooperate in every way practicable with the people of the state in their effort to obtain desirable immigrants. The need of immigrants of this character was ad- mitted by all, and the conference prompt iy set at work to determine the ways and means requisite to do the contemplated work
 Governor Jelks explained that 5000 of the contingency fund will be available for use in carrying forward the work of getting immigrants for Alabama, and that this amount may be increased by the tax on fertilizers to be collected by the com- missioner of agriculture. While Governor Jelks recognizes that immigrants may be profitably employed in the industrial and manufacturing enterprises in the state. he nevertheless feels that an effort should be especially made to get immigrants for the agricultural development of the state. It goes without saying that the tax on fertilizers will be used exclusively to ob- tain agricultural immigrants.
 Two Points Made.
 Governor Jelks, in his talk with the committee, stressed two points:
 T. That the immigrants must be de- slrable; that Is they must be persons who will come to the state determined to obey the law and to aid in the general develop ment 9 That before the states money Is appropriated for the object we have in view. plans, definite and practicable. must be formulated in the effort to make the movement a success.
 Tn persuance of this policy the gover- nor will insist that good lands be selected for immigration settlement, and that all reasonable Inducements be offered and all proper precautions taken to insure prompt and profitable employment for the immi- grants the moment they arrive. He will insist also that discrimination be used in the selection of the colonists, the coun- tries of Northern Europe being given the preference in selecting the recruiting grounds.
 To Devise Plan.
 "The subject was considered in all it's phases and as a result of the conference the executive committee of the Alabama State Immigration association will meet at 1 o'clock in the afternoon of August at the commercial club to devise def- mite plan of procedure. This plan will be submitted to the governor d few days thereafter
 At the suggestion of the governor five representatives farmers will be added to the executive committee The meeting to be held August will be attended and ad- dressed by Commissioner of Agriculture Poole and Ross c. Smith. the commis- sioner of immigration for the railways. The results of the meeting will be prompt ly communicated to the governor and his ratification or rejection of them, as the case may be, may be expected as soon thereafter as practicable"