The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-25

immigration bill last WINTER, proNlu-
inc for the iIlitcracy test. The
House disagreed to the iIlitcracy test.
and ii became necessary to effect Il
compromise between the two Houses
in order to obtain legislation This
compromise resulted in Il provision
providing for the appointment Of IL
commission, composed Of three men,
bers of the Senate, three members Of
the House and three lay-memberS, to
be appointed by the president of the
United States. Being a member Of
the Senate committee on immigration,
| was appointed on this commission.
The duty Of the commission. as out
lined in !he bill WAS to investigate
the subject Of immigration in all Of
its phases, both in the United States
aud in foreign countries and report
its findings to congress, with view
Of obtaining intelligent legislation on
this important subject.
cat the first meeting Of the COM
mission, which was held in Washing
ton, on April %, it was decided that
a part Of the commission should visit
Europe, and the part Of the commits
sion, who could not make the Euro
pcan trip, should make investigation
ill., the United States. This decision
resulted in Senator Dillingham;. Sena-
tor Latimcr, Congressman Burnett,
Howell and Bennett, and Mr.. Wheeler
going TO Europe. We neither went
to Europe to encourage or discourage
immigration, but to find out the class
OF immigrants, who were coming to
the United States; from whence they
were coming; the conditions surround
ing them in their homes; the wages
paid; the cost of living and climatic
conditions, SO that We might Judge
somewhat of their adaptability to the
conditions that exist in the United
States. This investigation has not
yet heen completed, nor is the report
Of the committee yet in shape for
presentation to congress, and what I
have said and shall say in regard to
the question. will be simply my own
views on the subject.
"T have no objection to people
c"ming to the United States or to
South Carolina. who will add TO on:
citizenship. Strcnmthe our institu-
tions and help perpctuate the govern
mcnt under which we live.
LESS than 100000 people came in
to the United States last wear from
Northern Europe, which embraces
icTmany. Holland and BELGIUM,
Switzerland, France, England, Ire
land, Scotland. Norway. Denmark and
Sweden; and the class of immigrants,
who come from the countries referred
TO, who come into the United States
under our present immigration laws
are unobjeetionable. In all of these
countries they have compulsory G !u-
cation, and the percentage Of educat-
ed people compares favorably with
that Of any part Of the United States:
they have also been accustomed to
form OF government of which they
largely approve and for which they
have a large degree Of respect, hut
in Southern Europe You find condi-
tions very different. In Russia, Aus
trla and Hungary and further south,
You find nigh per cent Of iliteracy
among the people, running anywhere
from thirty TO sixty per cent. They
have been accustomed 10 military gov
crnment and are kept in subjection
by military rule. They are largely Of
low origin. and in my Judgment, will
in no way be advantageous to our
citizenship under Republican form
OF government such as we have in
the United States, and | am for re-
strlctin% this class Of immi"rants to
the lowest minimum possible by fur
thcr amendments TO our Immigration
laws. In fact. we have not had this
class of immigrants to contend with
until the last few years. | do not
believe that the social or wage con-
ditions in South Carolina are such
mat we can reap any material bene-
Int From people WHO come here from
southern Europe. s we pay lower
wages in the south than are being
paid in any part Of the United States,
and the GIpJi ion is f.rthnr oo,n,>I;