The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-04
President Forbes Talks of Commercial
 Association,
Hundreds of Active Citizens Have Set About to Secure lmmigrants and to Otherwise Im-
 prove Conditions.
R. wiiI 1T. sheehan.


 The Alabama Commercial and ln- dustrial Association has taken the lead for immigration in Alabama. A call will be made for the next Legislature to do its duty when that body assem- bles in the coming winter.
 The Commercial and Industrial Asso- citation will present to the Legislature the plans through which immigrants will be brought to Alabama. because with the same sort of plans they have been brought to other States in the South. The plans were adopted at tue last meeting of the Association. held in Gld3den. The meeting was enthu- siastic for immigration. It was the keynote of the gathering.
 Now that the Association has ad- journed President A. c. Forbes and Sec retary l.. L.. Gilbert, both of whom re- side. Tn Montgomery, are labor!ng for the furtherance of the plans, until they are adopted by the Legislature.
 It is absolutely certain that there will be some immigration legislation when the States law makers come to- gether, after four years. What form this legislation will assume may hard ly he forecasted now. It is not known whether the Legislature will take two bites at the cherry or whether it will take up boldly it's task and make law that will mean something.
 The immigration question is not play ing any part in the present State cam papigns. It is cutting no figure in pol tiles and 1t is not wound up In the suc- cess or defeat of any candidate for Gcv- ernor. Both candidates stand for im- migration. The need of the State Is too we'll known. too generally felt. Has Plan Mapped Out.
 Now the State Commercial and In- dustrial Association comes forward with a plan mapped out, with solution in hand. The Legislature will be asked to create a Department of Immigration, with a Commissioner of Immigration at it's head. The Legislature will he asked to put 25,000 annually at the dis posal of the Department for four years. And this Department will then go to work for immigrants,
 The plan has the endorsement not only of the large and influential mem bership of the Commercial and Indus trial Association of the State. but it is endorsed by & number of the leading business men of the State who are not members. When the bill has been in troduaed and is considered by the com mittee many business men from all over the State will come to Montgomery to appear before the committee in it's in terest
 President Forbes of the State Asso- citation yesterday outlined the plans of the Association, emphasizing the work that is being done for immigration, but drawing attention, too. to the many plans which have been adopted by the Association for the uplifting and up- building of the bus ness welfare of the State.
 President Forbes Talks.
 In speaking of the work oe the As sociation. President Forbes said:
 Alabama must be placed alongside of Virginia. Maryland. South Carolina and other Southern States in syste- matically seeking high class immigra- tion from this and other countries through a properly equipped and ade- quately financed immigration depart ment. This, above and beyond all else, was the unanimous, enthusiastic sentiment of Alabama's live business men as expressed at the twelfth an nual meeting of the Alabama Commer- cial and Industrial Association at Gadsden last week.
 This organization has come to be an important one in the industrial well fare of the State. Its membership Is composed of men prominent and in fluential in the commercial circles of Alabama. and the unanimity of senti- ment as expressed from such men, that lIt OuSIhCSS WOt iu OI aid bama has awakened to Alabama's needs and has determined that they shall be met.
 At their meeting last week there was present on invitation, a young man who has done a pioneer work along immigration lines for the South with magnificent results. E. J. Wat son is the Commissioner of Immigra- tion for South Carolina, and in d forci- ble, convincing and at times dramatic manner. he imparted to the delegates in Gadsden information for nothing. which has cost the State of South Car olina many thousands of dollars to secure.
 Work I'm south Carolina.
 His practical talk covered methods of operation; countries from which immigration i3 solicited; number being received; location over the State and instruction in farm crops, etc, after location.
 The State of South Carolina today has at least dozen representatives in Scotland, England, Belgium, Den mark, Norway and Sweden. who at little expense to the State are distri- outing literature scattering informa- ton and ticketing immigrants direct to South Carolina.
 These passengers upon arrival are sent immediately from Ellis Island to