The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-25
SEN, LATIMER TALKS
ON IMMIGRATION
WAS IN NEWBERRY FOR FEW
HOURS YESTERDAY.
The Piedmont South Most Prosperous
Section in World-Should Re-
strict immigration.

Senator A. 4. IIatlmer SpeNI yes
terday in Newberry. He is returning
to his home at Belton from Batesburg,
where, on Wednesday, he addressed
some three thousand people, vino were
attending the Tri-County Fair at that
place. Senator Latimer is looking
we'll since his European trip. and talks
interestingly of the conditions in Eu-
rope as we'll as the United States. Of
course since nis first interview some
weeks ago on the immigration ques-
&ion, and having announced that he
would be candidate to succeed HIM
self in the United States Senate, his
views are Of interest on this subject.
It seems that it is to be one Of the
issues of the campaign for United
States Senate next year, and there
caa be no doubt that it is a national
issue; it is also a state issue, because
cur legislature: is confronted every
year with the discussion of the con-
tinuanee of our own immigration de-
partment, which was established some
four years agv.
Senator Latimar says that when he
made the trip abroad this summer, he
was not committed to any decided
position on the question, because he
was not so well informed as he is now
after a thorough Investigation as to
the class of Immigrants, which are
being brought here and the conditions,
which exist in Europe. He says that
from Northern Europe we receive the
smallest proportion Of our ignIni-
grants, and that those who come from
taat section, are the most desirable,
being Intelligent and law-abiding, and
that he would welcome such people,
who would be willing to pay their own
transportation and become hS ee own
ers after their arrival here, and beng
a class with whom our people could
assimilate. He had, however, taken
the position against indiscriminate
immigration in speeches which he de-
ivered more than a year ago.
Senator Latimer says that some Of
the newspapers, which have crit els
ed his position, have not been air
enough to give him an impartial hear
ing. The Herald and News asked him
to give an interview on this subject,
which is a live one in this state at
this time, and Mr.. Latimer readily
consented to talk. He says after his
speech at Batesburg on Wednesday
where some three Thousand farmers
were gathered, that great number Of
them came to him afterwards and
endorsed his views on the subject.
It was not his purpose to make it an
issue in tae campaign, but inasmuch
as he proposes to offer some amend
ments to the present immigration
laws Of the United States, and as he
is on the immigration committee to
investigate the subject, he felt that it
was due the people of the state that
ne should give them his opinion and
his views on the subject. At the
same time he would be glad to know
the sentiment Of his own people and
to realize that he was backed up in
his position by the people of his own
state.
Mr.. Latimer is lso very much in
terested J, in the drainage of the
swamp lands of this state, and ne be-
lieves that now is the time to get an
appropriation from the national gov
ernment for this purpose.
President Roosevelt, in his speech
at Vicksburg, Miss, the other day, an
nounced that he would recommend an
appropriation to reclaim the swamp
lands of that section, and Mr.. Lati-
mer believes this is an oppotune time
to have the swamp lands of South
Carolina reclaimed, and it is as rea-
sonable that this should be done as
that millions Of money Should be ex-
pended by the government to furnish
water for those lands in the west,
which are without water.
Speaking Of the immigration ques-
ton in its various phases, Senator
Latimer said:
~ am satisfied that the object for