Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-15
rnr lMM1onAr1nn orEsr1oM

IHE ImmlbhAlAoN GAENAAbA"
There are indications that the imml-
grafton question will again command the
attention OF congress az the coming ses-
sion. The unprecedented record of last
years alien arrivals has had the effect
OF reviving the demand for further re-
strictive legislation and those who favor
this are losing no opportunity to urge 1t
upon public consideration. The whole
country" declares an eastern paper in
sympathy with the anu-immigrationists
should lie keenly alive to the absolute
necessity of restricting immigration.
The incoming food OF Europe's scum
has grown to such proportions that it
must be carefully studied from many
points of view by the approaching con-
gress."
This is a sample of what may be ex-
pected from the advocates of restriction
from now on to the end Of the next ses-
sion Of congress, coupled with lurid
warnings of the danger to the political,
moral and social welfare Of the more
than eighty millions Of our people IL
something drastic is not done to check the
foreign accretion to our population. Yet
it is not shown that this so-called scum
is in anybodys way or that it has caused
any trouble. There being a demand for
the labor which 1t supplles-a demand
which for several years 1t has been diff
ficult to meet, especially in the west-the
coming of these aliens has undeniably
been benefit. Whether or not they
brought much of anything with them
other than the ability to work, they have
as a whole added something to the
wealth of the country. Perhaps among
them there were a few who we're un-
worthy of admission, but II would be
serious reflection upon the care and
vigilance Of the immigration authorities
to assume that any considerable number
got in in violation of the law. The gen
eral understanding is that the immigra-
ton regulations were never more rigidly
enforced than at present so that there
Is small chance of what can properly be
called "scum" getting into the country
through the regular channels. But in
the eyes OF those who would shut out
immigration pretty much all labor that
comes here from abroad is regarded as
scum.
Meanwhile there is an urgent call from
the south for white labor 1t is wanted
in the factories Of that section and for
the development of it's resources. Not
long ago a convention of southern plant
ers and manufacturers and railroad men
was held in the national capital, the
chief object Of which was to discuss
plans for attracting more white labor to
the southern states. They cannot obtain
native labor and would welcome that
| from abroad. The south does not and
will not oppose immigration. Neither
will the west, which could use more
! labor than is now to be had. 1t is not
in these sections that hostility to immi-
! grafton exists to any great extent but
in the east, where the alien population
is congested in cities and is rapidly In
creasing. 1t cannot be denied that this
is very undesirable condition, but It is
not a sufficient reason for shutting out
immigration, If it can be of benefit to
the rest of the country as 1t has been
in the past. There is but one thing that
congress should do in regard to immi'
grafton and that is to provide some plan
for the better distribution of the immi-
grants. If this were done there would
be fewer aliens remain in the larger
cities and a chief cause of the existing
hostility to immigration would be re-
| moved.