The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-01-05
KANSAS And The FOREIGNERS
THIS STATE NOT HURT By NM
GRAFTON.
The West Gets the Cream and the
East Gets the Scum, Says State
Labor Commissioner.

Labor Commissioner.
W A L Johnson, state labor COM
missioner. who attended the immigra-
ton congress held in New York, has
made his report to Governor HOch, as
he was instructed to do.
Mr.. johnson found some interest
I ing things regarding the immigrants.
He said:
L do not think that there is any
/ danger to Kansas in the immigration
from the foreign countries, because
I the eastern states get the scum, while
the western states get the cream The
. men who intend to go into agriculture
are the ones who come west It is
4 true that we get a few laborers on the
| railroads, but they are comparatively
few. do believe, however, that there
should be more restrictions placed on
/ foreign immigration than we now
have 1t may be that the present law
would be all right if it was properly
enforced"
Mr.. Johnson made a clear report to
the governor and he has in it some
things which will interest every one.
| The report follows:
Attending the immigration con-
gress held in New York during the
month Of December, 1905, were $40
delegates. representing every state and
territory as we'll as the Hawaiian is
lands The delegates were given a
trip through Ellis island and had the
opportunity Of viewing the reception
and registration Of about 5000 immi-
grants which arrived on the Kaiser
7 Wilhelm II
These immigrants were duly in
spected very much after the manner
Of inspecting cattle, the inspector
looking sharp into the eyes and about
the neck and scalp Of each immigrant
and passing on to the division from
which he was to register through be-
fore being permitted to make final
entry
The immigration statistics for the
year may be summed up as follows:
A total admission for the year Of
1,O2T,OOO, not including admissions
from Canada and Mexico. The group
ing OF a majority OF immigrants are
as follows: Austria-Hungarians, 275,-
693; Italians, 221,49 Russians and
POlands, 1887; Germans, 45,5OO;
lNOrwegians. Swedes and Danes, 49,
600.
1T viii be seen by the above that
nearly IS per cent came from the first
three countries, namely, Austria
Hungary, Italy and Russia It was
further noted that IS per cent OF the
total immigration for the year lodged
almost entirely in the cOngested cen
tiers Of the eastern states, and were
distributed largely as follows: New
York, $500; Pennsylvania, 21O,7OS;
Massachusetts, 72,I5O; Illinois, 49,
600; Indiana, $1,000; Ohio, $4,000;
The remaining "a per cent was dis
tributed in what is called the western
and southern states, grouped respec-
/ 70
the south. IS, 800. The extreme south
and southern states were remarkable
for the small showing made in the
way OF admissions, which were as fol-
lows: Georgia, SIS; Arkansas, 432;
Kentucky, 61S; Tennessee, 1872; South
Carolina, 32S; North Carolina, 1S3.
There were 1890 immigrants re-
fused admission by the inspectors on
the ground of ineligibiiity; go Of
these were brought over in direct yio-
IatiOn Of the immigration laws and
for which the steamship companies
were fined 500 each, making $27,-
600 revenue from that source. The
1880 were returned at the expense
Of the steamship companies, but were
not guaranteed that they would be
returned to their former homes, as
the law is deficient in that respect
These 1,O27,OOO immigrants brought
average Of about S25 a piece.
The reported occupations Of these
immigrants were said to be about
So, 200 common labOrers, the re-
mainder being distributed through
various trades and occupations other
than labOrers
The convention agreed that there
should be more restrictions against
the undesirable immigrant, such as
diseased, idiotic. insane, immoral,
criminal and all other classes that
are unfit for American citizens and
the higher standard Of American civil
lizatiOn, yet how to reach that de-
gree Of restriction without elimiDat-
ing some Of the more desirable classes
who seek to become students and en-
joy the liberties Of this great country
was the all absorbing question Some
/ advocated a head tax Of from SIS to
$25, others an educational test, 9TH
ers an unrestricted immigration TAX
ing chances on receiving benefits
equivalent to deficiencies. All agreed
that a better means Of distribution OF
immigrants from the ports OF entry
would be one very desirable means
OF solving in part at least this ques-
ton Of congestion in the east
"a modification Of the naturaliza-
ton laws is another feature Of mo-
ment when il is remembered that in
thirteen states the immigrant can vote
| within three months after he lands
on American soil by taking out the
naturalization papers and complying
with the other duties imposed. The
Chinese exclusion act was discussed in
all its phases and the unanimous de-
cisiOn Of the convention was that
there should be no change except to
remove unwarranted hardships for
those who are eligible to enter from
China, such as officers, manufacturers
| teachers and students"
Too1- Here and Ponder