West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-11-22
Trouble Brewing Over Shipment of
Immigrants to South
MAY HAVE TO SEND THEM BACK
Currency Reform Commission Considers
Financial Problems-Reeom-
mendation to Congress

49, NfFAhAAn ~ nkAG u rs
most needed, there comes the an.
nou1cement that the Department
ct Justice contemp.ates prosecuting
all of the officers who have mad
anything to do with the recent shin.
ment of immigrants TO South
Carolina. 1t is said that these i'm.
migrants may even be turned back
and the state compelled TO paw
their passage to their respective
homes. This is a rather remark
able situation, especially in view Of
the fact that the President was very
much interested in having the i'm.
migrants sent to the South and that
the commissioner of immigration
and the commissioner OF labor were
both among the officials who well
coined the recent shipment at
Charleston.
The trouble all came about, so il
IS said, through the state immigra
ton agent exceeding his authority
when he was sent abroad and leav
ing loophole whereby the labor
unioos were enabled 20 charge him
with the violation Of the alien con-
tract labor law. The chances are
that the law has been technically
violated, or at least that the author
ties have sailed very close TO the
danger point. A whole ship load
OF immigrants was brought to
Charleston and found ready EN-.
ployment where their services we're
much needed and where the resi-
dentnegro lIborers were both TN.
willing and unable to supply the
demand. The question arises
whether any actual promises by
private individuals were made in
getting these foreigners to come TO
the United States for employment.
The law is very strict on that point.
1t was not long ago that the Bradley
Martins IN New Yor, imported an
Understandable English coachman
at hlg1 wages, and he was turned
back merely because it was proved
that a contract had been made TO
employ him before he sailed from
the O hr side. Nov Of course the
lmmiefant bOrers referred to do
no come ! he same class either
with the co4chman or with immense
gangs of miners and railroad labor
ers which big corporations have
from time tp time endeavored 10
smnggle into the United States.
But The law is definite on the sub
jeci and Their is every opportunity
for the federation of labor to make
trouble if it so desires ON The plea
OF keeping the alien Contract labor
law iuyioIate
There is one thing to b. SAID.
however and that is that even If
he southern migrants arc tenn
porarlly turned back they will make
mighty good missionaries on the
other side and VIII spread the news
nat there is promising field open
IA the South if the immigrants will
only come to a southern port in.
stead Of 10 New York.
For a week past special com
mission to consider The question of
currency reform has been meeting
30 Washington, and it is thought
Hsfore It adiouns that it will have
'rmu.ated recommendations that
rtn seriously be considered by
Congress 40 its coming session
The need of more elastic currency
at n.v,r been questioned and the
s ..em which was good enough in
'ne cHiy days of the national
banks no longer m.els the re.
| grreme.ts The problem is briefly
81 onc season Of the year
Inrfs Dr. money enough for all
I .r4rf.,.I ...t,..... aft