St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-24
District rleeting Jr. o. U. A. M.
strong Resolutions on the Restriction of
Immigration Adopted
(From our Special Correspondent

(From our Special Correspondent
The first and second districts, Tr
Order United American Mechanics OF
Vermont, held largely attended meet
ing in the hall OF the Orleans Liberal In
stitute at Glover last Wednesday. The
afternoon session was called together at
2 O'Clock, President William H. Jeffrey
presiding. The address Of welcome was
delivered by Hon. William F. Clark
assistant judge of Orleans county. A
brief response was made by President
Jeffrey and then strong and scholarly
address on patriotism was delivered by
Rev. A. F. Walch OF st. Johnsbury, fol-
lowed by several short talks by State
Councillor Cofran, Ex- State Councillor
Starkey, Deputy Hickie and other men,
bers of the order.
Adjournment was taken for supper.
and at T o'clock the evening session was
called to order and large amount of
routine business transacted. Just prior
to adjournment to the banquet hall
President Jeffrey called State Treasurer
Claude King to the chair and introduced
the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted,
WHEREAS, There is no question con-
fronting the present Congress of the
United States, that requires more serious
or prompt consideration than that of
| immigration, and
WHEREAS, We see hundreds of thou
sands OF ignorant and vicious persons
| landed on our shoreS; we feel thrill of
alarm, and ask ourselves, can the vital
system of our beloved country receive
these shiploads of vicious humanity with
safety. We recognize the fundamental
principle OF our government, to welcome
the oppressed to our shores, but when
this welcome endangers republican
form OF government, as well as the
health and prosperity of this people,
then we demand suitable restriction to
be placed upon the e7il. And
WHEREAS, We recognize that there
are two classes of immigrants, viz, the
desirable and the rndesirable: 1t is in
the latter class, we 6nl the ignorant,
the pauper, the diseased and the criml-
nal. 1t is the arrival of millions of this
class, during the last decade that causes
US to view the the situation with alarm.
And
WHEREAS, We are receiving greater
number OF the undesirable than the
desirable class, as shown by the fact
that from Poland, Russia, Italy and
Hungary, the countries from which our
undesirables come. are geatly increasing,
while those from England, France, Ire
land and Germany, tn countries from
which the most desirable come are max
ing no material increas, and
WHEREAS, Sixty p: cent of those
coming from Poland, lussia, Italy and
Hungary are unable toread and write,
and
WHEREAS, The importation into this
country OF such largeper cent OF ignor-
ant persons is directly responsible tor a
large amount OF crime committed, and
WHEREAS, Only abut 80 per cent of
our population is foregn, yet emitting
coIored persons, 81 pc cent of our peni-
tertiary population isof foreign element.
Ia the juvenile reforratories, emitting
colored persons, &c pc cent OF those OF
known nativity are 4 foreign element.
OF the almshouse ,aupers, emitting
colored persons, 59Iper cent OF those
of known nativity, ar offorelgn element,
and
WHEREAS, 1t is frequently asserted
that foreign courts, have released crimi-
nails or suspended sentence, under
promise from them that they would
emigrate to America and
WHEREAS, We fin that in 1850 we
had only one criminal for each $500
persons, while 40 yars later, 1890, we
had one for each 760persons, an increase
of 400 per cent, Will our population
had increased only p per cent,
THEREFORE, BE Il RESOLVED by the
First and Second dstricts OF Vermont,
Jr. Order United A erican Mechanics,
composed of counc S in East Burke.
Glover, St. Johnsbut, Lunenburg, Dam
vile. Wheelock, Shd field, West Burke,
Lyndon and Newp rt, in semi-annual
meeting assembled, hat we demand OF
our delegation in tho National Congress
now in session, thu introduction, and
passage il possible OF suitable legislation
to remedy the existitg evils, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we
shall be watchtul OF lur delegation, and
mindful of their act when next called
upon to receive tf report of their
stewardship.
RESOLVED, that lopy Of these resolu-
tons be sent to each member of our
Congressional delegation and copies be
furnished the press d the state.
After the banqHt the meeting re-
assembled and liste9ed to string remarks
of many of the leadng members of the
order in the state Invitations were
received from Newport and Danvile for
the next meeting. The matter was
finally left with The executive committee.
All the councils we're reportedin excellent
condition. New councils have recently
been organized at Hardwick and Plain
field.