The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-10
ITALIANS IN THE SOUTH.
An Argument That They Can Only Be
Diverted By z National Law.

An Argument That They Can Only Be
Diverted by a National Law
OF the 2c,o88 Italians who in 1894 en-
tered the United states and declared
that they had been here before. it is
safe to state that 40 per cent. belong to
that class that work here III the sum-
mer and loaf i'll Europe in the winter.
These are Objectionable to US on
principle.
The diversion of immigration from
New York to Norfolk, Charleston
Mobile Pensacola, New Orleans ana
Galveston can only be accomplished by
national lava move which would be
approved by the railroads entering that
port.
In torrid South America the italian
cXcels as a tradesman, while in the
temperate sections of Brazil, Chill,
| Argentina and other sections he eXcels
as an agriculturist Were it not for
the fact that he cannot earn as much
as a lab0rer in those countries. his in
| elimination would be to seek a home
| there, because of the facility with
which he can learn to make himself
understood in Spanish and Portu-
guese.
III those countries he is given freee
homesteads and permitted not accorded
him in the states.
| In the United States the lillian is not
an agriculturist because of the want of
| initial capital and the further fact that
| city life destroys in all men the desire
for rural existence. In order to make
| him available as farmer he must be
taken from the transatlantic steam
| ships and carried to his place of des-
tination. But the man with sufficient
money to purchase farm in America
needs not to leave Italy to earn a liv-
ing. The investment there will give
him better returns without the hards-
ships of learning a new language and q
new mode of life.
How can we induce the Italian agri
| culturist or any other foreign agricul-
turist to come to the southern states?
By a simple process. but one that will
never pass a southern Legislature and
veto of the governor, If the state has
no public lands purchase the depleted
forests in suitable localities. Divide
the land in lots Of twenty-five acres
each, Give each male immigrant be-
tween the ages of twenty-one and for
ty-five one lot to be his so long as he
resides on it and cultivates and i'm
proves the property, together with
twenty years option of purchase in fee
simple for cash. The whole contract to
be void if he abandons the land and all
Improvements are then to SO to the
state. AS this is state property until
paid for, it does not pay taxes until
transferred. This is the only tangible
and attractive solution that | can see
of the immigration problem Another
precaution that should be taken is to
have the nearest United States consul
residing in Europe certify to the good
character Of the applicant.
Of course this would involve the
disadvantage Of political interference
in the selection iof the land and the,
price to be paid, The land saauld be
suited to the object for which it is
purchased. and not be worthless waste
farm lands. Moreover, the immigrants
should be properly protected against
intimidations of those who naturally
dislike them. ,.
| believe that such policy, and no,
other will give prompt response to a
logical desideratum One colony sue
cessfulIy planted where its members
can get employment on adjoining farms
to assist them from time 10 time would
bring others, and thus the tide of Italz
ian immigration would be turned
southwark.
Another requirement that should be
exacted is that as soon as permissible
they should take out their first citizen
ship papers. This would obviate GER
tain legal opposition that the know
nothing" crowd would surely raise.
This is not contract labor, and could
be solicited in Europe without inter-
ference from the federal authorities as
follows: THAT it be deemed q viola
ton of said act of February 26 1885, to
assist or encourage the importation or
immigration of any alien by promise of
employment through advertisements
printed and published In any foreign
country, and any alien coming to this
country in consequence of such an adj
vertisement shall be treated as coming
under a contract as contemplated by
such act, and the penalties by said act
imposed shall be applicable In such
cases; provided this section shall not
apply to the states and immigration
bureaus of states advertising the in
ducements they offer for immigration
to such states."--C F. z. Caracrtsti III
the Manufacturers Record.