Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-06
TO DEBATE AL|ENLAW
Notable Assemblsge Gathers TO
Take Action Leading to
Reform Of ln,mi
grafton Laws

"|' 80
OF the great labor organization. which
In their nature are yitaily concerned
In the subject OF the restriction OF un.
desirable immigration sat side by side
with the heads OF great corporations,
and college professors, s~ociologists
and eminent churchmen OF various
denominations elbowed the governors
OF states, United States senators and
other public men Of wide reputation.
A glance az the attendance made II
apparent that II the movement to rem.
edy the present immigration Is to be
promoted by the intelligent discussion
OF men eminently qualified to speak
on the subject II will receive a great
impetus from the conference begun
to-day.
August Belmont. chairman Of the
National Civic Federation. In calling
the conference o order. explained the
object OF the gathering to be to dis.
cuss and and all subjects pertaining to
foreign immigration to the United
ot0tCS Ill Itc CuCNt6 uIOu lac uutiVh1'
al life and industries.
Under the general head the follow
ing questions are scheduled for dis.
cussion during the three days the con.
ference will be in session. .
What domestic industries and waht
labor crafts are most affected by the
influx Of alien labor. and In what
ways?t
What Is the character OF the net
increase In the population Of the
United States by immigration?
Should existing Legislation looking
to the elevation Of this character
through the exclusion OF undesirable
elements be extended and made more
effective. and, II SO. how?
Should there be any change In the
system Of inspection, such AZ having
II made at the ports Of departure, or
at the home sources of emigration. or
at both? II
Are there any external influences
tending to stimulate the volume Of
immigration?
What are the nature. extent and 10
cality Of the demands Of che United
States for more labor?
What percentage Of European immi-
grations remains In the ports Of ar
rival, such rs New York, Boston, Phil
adelphia and Baltimore?
What practical method a be de-
vised Of distributing immigration. es-
,pecially for agriculture, to the points
where II may be needed?
What will be the effect Of the dis
Itribution Of large numbers Of immi.
grants In the south upon the problem
Of Industrial education and social bet
terment of the negro race
Should the exIusion OF Chinese
coolie labor be made Q rigid. and
| should it be extended to Japanese
and Korean labor?
How shall the admission OF exempt
ed classes Of Asiatics. such as schol-
ars, merchant and tourists, be regu-
lated?
Some Of the representative men who
have accepted invitations to address
the conference. and the majority OF
hon we're on hand at the opening to
|! day, are President Eliot Of Harvard
university, President Gompers Of the
American Federation Of Labor. Pres
ident John Mitchell OF the United Mine
Workers. Secretary Of War Taft. Gov,
error Higgins Of New York. James J
Hill. Andrew Carnegie, Oscar 8
9traus, Cardinal Gibbons. Bishop Fow
Ter. and United States Senators Lodge
of Massachusetts. Mcknery OF Louisi
ana. and Clark OF Montana.
The initial session was devoted al
most entirely to the formalities OF or
ganization. Early in the afternoon thu
delegates went in a body to the immi
grafton station at Ellis Island. where
they we're entertained at luncheon b.
Commissioner atchorn. On landing a
the islands the delegates were sub
jected to the same character OF exami
. nation as any arriving immigrants. ant
thus we're given a persoSl opportnni
ty Of experiencing the process OF al
alien entering the United States. Al
ter this Introduction the delegates
witnessed the arrival, inspection an
fisnositicn o. several thousand imm1
! grants. AT the luncheon they wer'
served with the same food as that SC
before the incoming aliens.
The conference will probably devot'
/ Tomorrow to discussing the problem
/ Of Asiatic immigration, when Seer
: tary of War Taft will speak and ais
IA. r. G Atkinson. president OF IN
, territorial board Of Enumeration an
|. secretary Of Hawaii. Friday Will b
: devoted to the discussion OF the prot
lem In It's relation TO n social and n
i dusirial prosperity OF the Unite
: States, including the regulation, rt
striction. exclusion. suspension or er
enlargement If immigration In all u
: phases. and the effectiveness OF IN
: administration Of existing legislation.