The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-04
SOLVING THE LABOR QUESTION.

/ Steps Being Taken TO Turn the Tide O
European Immigration to the South.
Movement Endorsed by Govern
ment officials and Press.
! New Orleans Times Democrat.
We commented, some days ago, on
the movement 10 turn the tide Of Eu-
| ropean immigration from the over
crowded cities of the north to the I'M
developed fields and Industries of the
south. This would be to the advantage
of all interested. It would benefit the
north, which is suffering from the con-
gestion Of large immigrant popula-
ton in its great cities; to the south by
furnishing itwith morelabor to develop
its resources. 1t would be equally ad-
vantageous to the American laborer by
protecting him FROM the competition
with an excess Of cheap and unskilled
labor, which has atendency to depress
wages; while the immigrant who is
looking for work and frequently can
not find it in the north, and In despair
returns home, would find plenty to do
on the southern farms and planta-
tions.
But while the project is 50 generally
advantageous to all, we scarcely ex-
pected to see it received with such
unanimous favor. The United States
bureau Of immigrant is prepared to
give its ardent support, and do all it
can legally do to turn the newly ar
rived immigrants towards the south.
General Of Immigration
Sargent would, indeed, go much fur
ther II the law allowed il. In discuss
ing the matter with the representatives
of the southern railroadsswho went be-
fore him, he expressed regret that the
federal government had not provided
by Law for the better distribution OF
aliens in this country, as its failure
had resulted in the building up and
maintenance of foreign colonies in the
United States, which ought TO be
broken up.
It was only by proper distribution
that tie evil could be corrected. He
added that the practical question was,
what shall be done with the hundreds
Of thousands Of immigrants to avoid
dangers that now threaten US? He
called attention TO the congestion OF
population in New York, Chicago and
other cities; the enormous expenditure
for the support of INDECENT aliens: the
records. of the lesser criminal and po-
lice courts: the alien inmates Of hos
pitfalls, jails and reform atory institu-
tions; the crowded habitations of for
eigners in the cities; the struggle for
bare existence by which the stsweat-
shop" system has passed from one
alien race to another; the introduce
tion into this country Of the Malta, the
vendetta, the "Blaek Hand and an
arehist societies, and, on the other
hand, the millions OF untitled acres
and the unsatisfed demand for agri-
cultural and other manual labor. All
these evils, he thought, could be cured
by the diversion of a part OF this for
eign immigration into the agricul-
tural sections Of the south.
The southern press, officials and peo-
pie generally have expressed them
selves friendly TO the movement and as
anxious to welcome the newcomers
this showing marked change of SEN
timent from the old belief that the set
tIement of European Immigrants in
this section would do great harm by
Disappointing the negro laborer.
Even more pronounced is the press
of the north, which is giving the
project send-off that cannot fail to
help it. These papers declare hat the
tide of foreign population to the south,
by bringing about the DEVELOPMENT OF
this section, will benefit tie country
as a whole, while it will hasten sat-
isfactory settlement of the race ques-
ton.
The Chicago Post thinks the move
ment is destined to be a success be-
cause it is in the hands OF such emf
nently practical men.
"Of two-fold Importance, !" says the
Post, SIS the movement launched in
Washington for the. purpose of divert
ing to southern agricultural and in
dustrial communities the stream Of i'm
migration that now is directed to the
larger centers of population in the
north. Besides serving in measure
to solve the serious problem Of foreign
colonization in cities, it should give
to the south's industrial revival an
added impetus sufficient to overcome
any retardent influences that may de-
velop. The proposition differs from
most social and economic schemes,
IN the fact that its consumm alton is in |
the hands OF practical railroad bust |
ness men instead Of dreamers and vi
sionaries. The benefit of such an ar
rangement to the immigrants would be |
lncalculable. Many of them would
ind in the south climate and soil con-
1itions not widely different from those
Of their native countries. They also
would feel an Independence and en-.
enlargement toward useful citizenship
hat IN the. very nature OF things
'onnot be given them in the great
titles. The proposition is one that