The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-03-15

BY B0NAPARTE
New Light Thrown on His Opinion
Anent immigration Statute.
NOT A BLOW TO SOUTH
Southern States Can Continue to Induce
Foreigners to Come Hence With
Only Small Restrictions.

A Washington special says: South
Carolina officials and others interest
ed in the attitude of the administra,
ton towards assisted immigration,
held a conference Monday with Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Attorney General
Bonaparte at the White House and
with Secretary Straus at the depart
ment of commerce and labor.
The result of the conference with
the president and Mr. Bonaparte, ac-
cording to statements made by for
mer Governor D. c. Hayward and
Commissioner of immigration Wat
son, of South Carolina, was entirely
satisfactory to all concerned, and the
opinion was expressed by Mr.. Hey
ward that according to the eXplana-
lions made by the government Off
GERS, the new immigration law will
not deprive the states of any rights
conferred by former laws which may
not have been appealed or by the
existing laws.
Early in the day Messrs. Hayward
and Watson had brief conference
with the president This was follow
ed late in the afternoon by second
meeting, at which in addition to those
named there were present Attorney
General Bonaparte, r. G. Rhett, may
or of Charleston, and Thomas f. Par
ker, the chairman Of the immigra-
ton committee of the South Carolina
Manufacturers Association. At it's
conclusion the attorney general and
his visitors said the conference had
been satisfactory one.
These conferences grew out Of
a request made by Mr. Hayward, who,
with Mr.. Watson, is about to start
for Europe to make an efIolt to Sc
cure the permanent establishment Of
the line Of steamers which the North
German Steamship Company has been
operating to Charleston, with a view
to turning the tide of immigration
southwark.
The opinion of Attorney General
Bonaparte, rendered last week on the
immigration question, they fearel
was calculated to upset their plans
At the meeting the entire matter
was reviewed carefully and Mr. Bona
parte explained the exact meaning Of
his opinion
Messrs. Hayward and Watson eZ-
planned that the state did not wish
to do anything not absolutely legal
in securing immigrants needed IN
South Carolina.
"The result" said Mr. Watson az
ter the meeting, lis satisfactory to
ALL We do not feel that the move
ment for immigration to the south
will be retarded in any way as
result of the attitude of The admins
tration and ] am sure that the Ia
Dor interests will not Only not be in
jured in any way, but will be bene-
flied"
Former Governor Hayward said:
THE construction OF the law as
given by the attorney general today IS
absolutely satisfactory to the move
ment for immigration to the south.
1t has never been the purpose Of this
movement to bring in contract or
cheap labor. The question Of the
rights and power of the state as to
prepayment Of the passages Of immi-
grants will doubtless be set forth
later by the attorney general. it
seems certain that the new law will
not deprive the states Of any rights
conferred by the former or present
laws. vas very much gratified at
the interest shown by the president
and all the officials in our movement
to upbuild the south on practical lines
ard 1 fee; that they all now have
a clearer idea Of its economic value
to the entire country"