Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-16
SOUTH NEEDS MORE IMMIGRANTS

| IF the south wants immigrants she
| will have to raise wages to the level
| that prevails in the north and west"
This was the blunt advice given TO
the southern states immigration COM
mission by Robert Watchorn, commits
sioner Of immigration. He welcomed
some thirty members of the new or
ganization to Ellis island the other
| day. showed them the workings of the
place and told them what they would
have to expect in the attempt to de-
fleet immigration toward the south,
says the New York Times.
You may think that immigrants
come TO this country without knowing
where they are going" said Commits
sioner Watchorn, land that you can.
get them as they land from the boats.
1t is not SO. Out Of every 400 that
come here 800 know exactly where
they are going. If you try to make
them change their minds by telling
them how superior the south is they
are apt TO think you are confidence
men If you don't believe it Just come
downstairs and see how many you can
persuade to alter their course"
The commissioner and the visitors
trooped into the railroad ROOM" where
dozens OF swarthy Europeans were
waiting to be shipped off. The Louisi-
ana representative approached a star
ing Italian. and the other sOutherners
crowded around to listen.
What is your businessT asked the
Louisiana man through the interpreter.
Brick layer" answered the Italian.
Then the southerner began to tell of
the manifold advantages Of living in
Louisiana, how an immigrant could get
ten acres of land, house, farming i'm
pIements and many other things. The
Italian listened stolidly. When he had
heard the tale to the end be said:
"Farming-it Is not my business"
That was all he had to say. The
man from Louisiana said he hadn't had
a fair chance. He was looking for q
farmer. Commissioner Watchorn found
five Greek farmers all in a row. To
one of them. who said he was bound
west to meet a cousin. was told the
manifold advantages of Louisiana
The interpreter told him about the pigs
and the cows and the green grass and
the kind treatment he would get.
Looking at the stout man from Louisi-
ana. the Greek asked abruptly:
who are you? Whom do you rep
resent"
The answer did not make the foreign
er enthusiastic.
I'll 20 to my cousin" he announced. |
That's the way it is with 800 out of |
400" said Commissioner Watchorn. |
The best chance you have is to get |
them after they reach their destination !,
if they are disillusioniZed."
Several immigrants who had been |
excluded by the board of special in |
quiry We're brought into the commits /
siOner's office on appeal, so that the |
visitors could see how the system work |
ed. Three little Swedes, n boy of |
fourteen and twins of eleven, were |
the first Corners. Their brother wanted |
them out in Minnesota, but his aft
davit had not satisfied the board. |
When they filed in big Georgian said:
III take 'em right now
I'll give 'em a home and take care
Of EN-" volunteered Tennesseean.
Their offers We're not in order,
though. and the commissioner proceed
ed to question the children. Finally lie
decided to overrule the boards de-
cision and let them go TO Minnesota
That pleased the audience, and every
body applauded. The immigrants who
the Swedes. though. We're evil
IDENTIFY unfit. and the boards decisions
were upheld.
Luncheon was served on the Ellis
island roof garden, which is the coolest
anywhere around New York city.
Then the commissioner told the south
arn states immigration commission
hat he would always aid them in their
work. and he invited them to visit Ellis
sland whenever they could. They left
vowinG that Robert WatchOrn was I'M
both as an official and host.
At a business meeting of the south
arn states immigration commission in
he afternoon r X. Bruner of North
Carolina was elected president. -. w.
CoOns of Kentucky vice president and
David Robinson secretary and treas
lrer.