The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-02
[. LESSER TALKS
 ON IMMIGRATION Advocates Establishment ot a
 State Bureau GERMANS ARE DESIRED MT. Lesser Has Favorable Report of Good Being Done By Industrial and Immigration Edition of
 Birmingham Courier.

Sentiment. favoring more and better immigration is growing in Alabama, and am certain that at the next session of the legislature an immigration commits sioner will be provided for the state and other methods adopted for inducing ac- ceptable foreigners to come into this state and make their homes with us'' said Emil Lesser, president of the German Immi- grafton society of Alabama yesterday
 "A bill providing for the election of an immigration commissioner was de- feated at the last session, but now the very people who opposed the passage of the bill are heartily in favor of it's adop- ton and will take an active part in the movement.
 I've are feeling more and more the need of a better class of immigration people who will come to the state, make their permanent homes with us and as- sist in the development of the country along all industrial lines. We want and must have honest thrifty people who will work. We can get this class of immi- grafton if we go after it. but we must have some system by which to operate. Texas was the pioneer state in the south to make systematic effort to se- cure desirable foreigners and the work of that state has been eminently sue cessful. Maryland followed with equal success, and two months ago Louisiana established a bureau of immigration with an immigration commissioner at it's head. and learn that already good start has been made.
 Alabama has been slow in this mat ter but the people are waking up to the great necessity of the state along this line, and I look for the early establish ment of the machinery necessary to the securing of desirable immigration. While it is a little early I have had some good reports from the industrial and immigration edition of the Birming- ham Courier which was issued a short time ago. A large number of copies of this edition was sent to Germany, and 1 have already received letters from peo- pie who are interested in the south and especially Alabama. This is the first literature of the kind that has ever been sent to Germany and it will have good effects. The people of Germany and all 1 the European countries want to know more of this country and eagerly accept anything that gives them the desired in- formation.
 There are many good, thrifty people in Germany who would come to Alabama | and would make first-class citizens, but they will not come without first knowing something of the conditions. They are doing very well at home and do not care to make the change unless they are as- sured of bettering their condition. The Germans who have come to this country are as a rule, satisfied and are making good citizens. They are helping materially in the development of this country and | the state is proud of them.
 ''rhe state should make it a par. of 1 it's business to inform the people of Germanq, and the other countries, who would like to come to America, of the advantages of Alabama and make a special effort to bring them to this state
 l believe this will be done at the next session of the legislature. and it will be
 one of the most important moves that the state could make.'