The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-16

one of the chief elements which e1ter
into the cost of production and the
creation of wealth. and its charges or
costs, greater or less, largely influence
the class of citizenship and the propor-
ton of profit left, to the producers of
wealth, and we should encourage the
counties of the state to maintain their
public roads In the highest state of eff
ficiency and l recommend you to enact
such statutes as may be be necessary to
carry this out.
Life Insurance.
The recent Investigation in New York
of the largest life insurance companies
have shown this business to be wonder
fully profitable, and also showed that
they were gradually absorbing the money
of the country. The proof evidenced
great mismanagement of the companies,
and large amount of graft and debauch-
ing f1uence. For the proper protection Of
the people, and as far as practicable, to
so save within the state the money Of
the people, and gradually prevent that
going out of the profits of the state, 10
build up such institutions without the
state | would suggest that you invest-
gate the propriety of making the state
insurance agent for the. people of the
state, giving the people the benefit of
the very best conditions and of the best
companuies and legislating as far as
practicable out of the state the foreign
companies.
Local Option.
There is almost universal demand
that we have a well defined and equitable
LEGAL option law This has been debated
through the state and is clearly under
stood. ! viii simply suggest that 1t Is
one of the essential features of our great
democracy that the majority shall rule.
Bucket Shops.
/ recommend the abolition and exter-
mination of bucket shops and every other
form of gambling in the state of Ala
bama.
immigration.
There is a great demand for labor in
nearly every industry of the state; I'M
questionaby many industries are being
retarded by the scarcity of labor, and
there is quite demand that the state
should lend its aid towards securing
more workers by importing them from
lands across the sea. There has been
some suggestions of bringing i'll cheap
labor, coolies and South Italians. / IN
derstand that Alabama has only eight
tenths of ! per cent of foreign popula-
ton, and suggest that while 1t would be
terest to increase our citizenship 1t would
be very dangerous and hurtful propo-
sition' to increase that citizenship at the
expense of the quality of citizenship. Inc
introducing of low class of labor under
the general labor conditions of the state
today would tend to level our present Ia
Dor and their pay to that class.
More than 40 per cent Of our population
are negroes, furnishing a low order of
labor 1t is certainly a sufficient burden
on the white men of the state to take
care Of educate and build up the negro,
and | can imagine no greater curse TO the
state than the introduction of low class
of white labor.
Statistics show that some 100000 of our
people have emigrated, evidently because
the conditions outside of the state were
better than those within the state The
present development and competitive de-
mand for labor increasing wages, lncreas-
ing the cost and value of product, would
of itself tend to attract not only new
labor but also prevent the emigration OF
our own people.
Nearly all of our people are laborers,
very large per cent of them do man
usl work, and very nearly all of the
balance, whether as clerk or merchant,
employer or employee, in the higher paid
Industrial and mercantile lines, depend ON
the price of labor for what they make,
and you could strike no more vital blow
at their welfare than to introduce a sys-
tenn of immigration that would tend to
reduce the earning capacity of labor, on
the farm. or in the office or factory, or
elsewhere / would caution you to not
be led across the best interests OF our
people and the future of our state by the
clamor of those who to promote some
present enterprise would lead you into the
false position of introducing into our state
httrt nttr host
interest instead of amalgamatlng with
our present citizenship and improving the
future of the state. 1t is true that we
want immigrants. immigrants built Gull
nan county immigrants have spread over
all of our north, south and southeast
counties and a great many nave come
TO Jefferson county. and they are st1ll
coming. This natural inflow and natural
Increase of our population will in time
take care of great many of our neces-
stiles We had better content ourselves
with this influx and natural Increase
rather than take the risk of foreigners
below a reasonable standard Of excel
lence, and If the state gives aid, whether
nv the use of it's name or means. to ANY
immigration policy, 1t should be under
many safeguards and restrictions.
There Is one method for the negro ia
climb in life and onely one, and that Is
the same TO every nation, and fhat ~ M
the ladder of successful uaided accom-
plishment All the laws ever enacted can
not make nation. The unwritten law
of every age is that you must succeed
by your own merit. The law can give. and
should give. the weak and helpless a
chance. but this Is all the law can do
that chance or opportunity so given must
he awaited Of by those to whom II Is ex-
tended We can by our conduct and by
our law help to give the negro chance
to find that path which leads upward. but
that we or anyone else should carry him
share is impossible. The very expecta-