New-York tribune., 1905-06-24

THE PROBLEM OF THE IMMIGRAfNTC a. Conditions. ions,
Discussion. with summary nir2,,,og og tbs Move,
Inent of Population to and from the 6[ttsh c;t
Empire United States isly France
spain' Portugal Netherlands, Denmark Scant sean
Wbepiev TaY1 "i Svo pp. vii, 2s5 E, P Dutton & Co
The problem of the immigrant that MI,
y,-1a1r1ex, discusses is not what the immigrant
sho1 do in the countries whittier he Journeys
or how he shall get there, serious as these may
o,,o +o he for him. but what the counIfles
shall do with the immigrant From Northern
Eastern and Southern Europe he is con1lhg'
100000 strong, westward every year MS ui-
innate destination is undoubtedly America ou'
he does not always get so far. he must gen
eraIlv pass through the countries OF Cent1al anu
Western Europe on his way and frequently CIR
cunstances prevail to halt him on the road
Wherever he stops he comes as an unoldceh
guest introducing disturbing factor INTO laoor
conditions and an alien, at times dangerous,
element into the population Usually MS own
country would prefer to have him remain at
home The problem Of what to do with him.
both as an emgrant and an immigrant, accord
ingIv assumes International importance, and
Mr. Whelpley urges should be a matter of in
ternational consideration and agreement. TO
further this end, to present the facts as they
exist and the laws bearing on the subject as
they now stand in the various countries con-
cerned, is the purpose of his volume
During a year spent in studying the situation
In thirteen countries of Europe, the author has
collected. not without difficulty he assures u.s.
the various statutes relating both to emigra-
ton and immigration in all of them, III the
British colonies and in the United States. TheSe
he prints either in whole or in summaries, with
a brief discussion of their main points in each
,.aIaa
tiers. giving his own conclusions from his per-
sonal observations and Investigations. The
whole forms, in brief compass. veritable mine
of information, alike for the sociologist and the
legislator. that has not hitherto been available
in any form Two principal causes operate to
produce this vast and abnormal movement of
population. One is the economical wrongs and
political persecution Of which the emigrant is
victim in his own land; the other is the eXtraor-
binary commercial activity of the transportation
companies 20 which. Mr.. Whelpley has figured
the present emigration movement represents
gross annual income of at least S50,o00.OO0. To
restrict emigration within normal limits that
will neither destroy the freedom of the indi-
vidual nor interfere with the welfare of the ma
tions concerned, it is not enough to legfslate at
one end only of the line. We have the in
effectiveness of own laws. excellent and
well administered as Iney are, TO prevent Ile
landing on our shores Of undesirable peoples in
appalling numbers while Great Britain, which
has Iabored under the disadvantage of no re-
strictive laws at all, has been made to suffer in
a peculiarly acute degree. Her emigration,
mostly of a thrifty and enterprising class, has
been balanced for several years by immigra-
ton of a far inferior type, including n large
proportion Of the paupers criminals and dis
eased deported from the United States. "It Is
a notorious fact" says Mr.. Whelpley that
whereas most of these deported emigrants are
from the Continent. by far the greater part Of
them, when returned, are dumped upon English
soil, the cheapest and easiest way Of getting
rid of an improbable and highly Objectionable
cargo"
It is advisable, even necessary, then, that
there should be laws at the points of departure
well as at the ports of arrival and that
these laws should agree and be strictly and i'm
partially administered. Italy is waking up to
the gravity of the situation in her own case
where two of her southern provinces have been
practically depopuIated but her efforts are
largely neutralized by the fact that directly
across her borders the agents of the transporta-
ton companies can operate almost as success
fully as on Italian SOIL as well as divert what
ever profit accrues to the country from carrying
the enigrants her own lines to those of other
nations With the United States. Great Britain
Germany and France the worst sufferers from
immigration, and considering the inroads made
on the productive wealth and military force of
the other great countries of Europe by emigra-
ton, the author is hopeful Of a substantial al
lance that will be powerful to regulate the
movement within it's natural channels. 1t is
difficult not to feel however. that he under
estimates the obstacles to such effective in
ternational agreement. He is much in earnest
that he is apt to set of facts to prove
the case OF the evils of too much immigration
and an apparently contradictory set to bolster
up his arguments for the evils of too much
emigration. He dilates equally the disad-
Vantages of admitting the unfit and of letting
go the men who form the bone and snew of the
land. He thinks that Europe should be willing,
to combine to prevent her loss of labor and
military service, yet admits that the natural
fecundity of the people prevents actual loss
of population. Nevertheless. the question is too
pressing on some of the nations involved long
to prevent some action being taken. and 1t
should be hastened. not only for nationally sell
FISH reasons. but for the general cause of human
welfare AS Mr.. whelpley enthusiastically argues.
One of the greatest benefits which might come
to the world from such cooperation among nations
notorious evils of government. The moral force OF
such alliance would pc tremendous. and the
ercise IT, overwhelming and decisive Oppression
in one part or the world which had the effect Of
another would secoTne the concern Of all. Wrongs
would be rightod demand, either willius.y
established that the countries into which people
moving are directly and justly interested in