The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-08

J
anv considerable numbers until with
in the last or 10 years and are not
I proving satisfactory anywhere they
have gone.
Below l quote your questions and
following each with my answer:
(a) Question: "In these circum-
stances, Senator, do you believe de-
pendence upon natural increase Will
result in freeing South Carolina from
a negro majority?' Answer: I be-
lieve it will be far better to depend
upon the natural increase AID the
general prosperous conditions which
prevail in the south to secure the de-
sired increase in our white popula-
ton than to take chances on u1de-
sirable immigrants.
(b) Question: EDO you advocate
extending a welcome 10 all white for
eieners that are intelligent, sober, in
du:;trious, law-abiding and God-fear-
in~, but particularly preferring those
from the British Isles, Norway,
Sweden, Germany, Holland and north
Of Italy?" Answer: If they come Of
their own accord, I answer yes, abso-
lutely.
(c) Question: EDO you prefer even
to these foreigners the same class OF
people from the Eastern, Middle, New
England and Western States, that
know the language and the country's
customs?" Answer: Of course I do,
and I believe this would be the best
class of people that could come here.
, Second: (d) Question: "Under the
laws creating the South Carolina bu-
reau, is it possible for that bureau,
or its officers, to solicit or IN other
way encourage immigration except
from the British Isles and the north
ern countries of Europe?" Answer:
The act referred to states plainly the
duty of the commissioner Of immlgra-
ton, and I have made no criticism OF
the efforts Of the commissioner to
carry out the requirements of the act
Of the legislature.
(e). Question: "Is there evidence or
belief that as much as one dollar OF
public money has been used by the
South Carolina immigration bureau to
defray the expenses Of immigrants to
this country?" Answer: In answer to
this I would Like to know what be-
came of the appropriation made by
the legislature, outside Of the salary
Of the commissioner and necessary
clerical expenses, and why it was urg-
ed upon the legislature at its last ses-
sion that $4,000 be appropriated,
with the result that $4,000 was ap-
propriated? It is my opinion that
these immigrants we're brought here
in violation Of the spirit, if not the
letter. Of the Federal law. In response
to a complaint made to congress that
during the strike in the coal fields a
few years ago the operators brought
over from Europe immigrants under a
contract to take the places of the
strikers in the coal mines, congress
passed law forbidding the impor-
tation of contract laborers. The I'M
migrants brought over on the WHITE
kind had their expenses paid and
claim tnat they were promised en-
ploymeat here at specified wages; and
in my judgment they were in every
sense contract laborers. If the mon
ey was not used in aiding them II
coming here, I do not See for what
purpose it was wanted.
(f) Question: "Under the terms OF
the existing national immigration law
as construed by the Washington au'
thorities. is it now possible for the
agent Of any state to use any money
public or private, to pay the passage
of immigrants to this country?" Al
swer: 1t is violation Of the Fedora
law to use money, either public OF
private. in aiding immigrants to come
to the United States. But the secre
tary of the department of commerce
and labor under former ruling con
strued the law differently, and under
that construction the officers Of The
state were exempted from the penal
ties of the law. It is my judgmen
that, as the spirit Of the law was
! violated in bringing over the Wltte
kind immigrants, it is being violated
now by thousands Of immigrants wh<
are coming to the United States, the
money to ray t|,r passage belne
eon4 h,- thair rcln4 VOC who are A IreadJ