Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14

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to establish regular line of monthly
steamers to follow IL the food of immigra-
ton could be diverted that way.
The neghboring states very much
excited about 1t. Georgia and Tennessee
have already arranged to take advantage
of the opportunity and will work up an inn
migration movement for themselves, and
within a few weeks probably every state in
the south will follow their example. The
Belgian immigrants are now scattered in
different parts Of South Carolina. taking
up land. renting farms and going Into the
cotton mills as operatives. They are nearly
all Manifestations, mothers and we'll
grown children-an excellent class Of people
and the most desirable kind of immigrants.
Unlawful Inducements.
But, II the Charlotte precedent is followed.
If the law is enforced, every one Of them
will have to be sent back to their former
homes in Belgium at the expense of the
state of South Carolina, because they have
come here upon inducements unlawfully Of
fered. 1t appears that Mr.. Watson, the
immigrant agent commissioner. loaned most
Of them the money to pay their passage
with the understanding that it would be re-
paid out OF their wages within a reasonable
time. It also appears that, although he Is
an official of the state, appointed under
act Of the legislature, his salary and ex-
penses and all Of the cost of the movement.
the printing. the advertising. ETC.. have
been paid from q fund raised by private
subscription among manufacturers and
planters for whom the immigrants are now
working, instead Of from an appropriation
by the legislature. This is a gross violation
OF section w of the immigration act, which
says that it shall be unlawful for any per-
son. company. partnership, or corporation,
| T. .l,~%a - -,
transportation in any way to assist or
encourage the immigration of any alien into
the United States, in pursuance of any Of
fer, solicitation, promise, or agreement,
etc. The punishment for this offense is the
deportation Of the immigrants to their for
mer homes and a fine not exceeding 81 900
for each and every alien so imported, by
Imprisonment for term of not less than
three months nor more than two years, or
by both such fine and Imprisonment
II this law is enforced. every one of the
800 people who landed at Charleston on the
4th Of November must go back to Belgium
and the jails Of South Carolina will all be
filled with planters, millowners and other
public-spirited citizens who brought them
over.
Officials Embarrassed.
The immigration officials and the officers
Of the Department OF Justice having this
matter in hand are very much embarrassed.
They know how important and how popu-
lar this movement Is in the south; they
know that the people Of South Carolina,
like those of North Carolina, have been act
ing In good faith, but. nevertheless, 1t was
a plain violation Of the law. and they don't
know what they ought to do about it.
1t was also the direct result of the mis-
sionary work Of the commissioner OF immi-
grafton. who has been going about the
south delivering lectures and making
speeches before conventions. boards Of
trade and other business organizations.
urging the people to seek their share of I'm
migrants. He has urged them to persuade
the legislatures OF their state to appropriate
money to send agents to Europe to make
representations and give Information about
and labor, and to lay before the home
seekers inducements and advantages Of
fered in the south. That Is exactly what
Mr.. Watson did. II he had stopped there
little farther in his enthusiasm and violated
the law. A state or a territory or the Dis
trfct OF Columbia can lawfully advertise
the inducements they offer for immigrants.
Section vi OF the law act of March 3, 1903,
allows that, but neither cities nor towns nor
counties can lawfully do So It can only be
done by officials appointed and paid by
state authority. If private individuals or
clubs or organizations of any kind furnish
the means to pay the expenses OF adver-
Using agents it spoils the whole job.
Tide Turned South.
In anticipation of turning the tide of i'm
migration toward the south inspectors
stations are being built at New Orleans
and Galveston, and Commissioner Sar-
gent thinks lot of Europeans will be
landed 1t both those cities, as we'll as at
Charleston, during the coming winter and
spring. He says that II the first few ship
loads can be well placed there will be no
difficulty in filling the south with the very
best sort Of foreign labor. Heretofore 1t
has been very difficult to get the immt-
grant by New York city. During the last
fiscal year 1,1O0, 735 people landed at Ellis
Island. and 1t is Mr.. Sargent's opinion
that 60 per cent Of them stopped at New
York and in the vicinity, when they would
be much better on If they had gone to the
south.
Oficiais OF the Department. Of Justice
and the immigration bureau who have this
matter in hand will be very careful not to
interrupt the southern movement. because
they realize its importance, and they hope
predic9ynent. They will take pains to see
that NJ other state violates the law In
similar manner, and that all future adver-
Using II conducted according to the re-
quirements OF the statutes. For several
years Commissioner Sargent has been try
ing to persuade Congress to allow state
advertising agencies to be established at
Ellis Island SO as to capture q share Of the
Immigrants who arrive there by giving
newcomers full and reliable information
that may guide them in seeking locations
to which they are best suited. He will re-
new the recommendation in his forthcom-
Ing report. This would be q. great ad-
vantage for the southern states.