New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-19

It is announced that the secretary Of the
Maryland State Bureau of Immigration has
sailed for Europe In search of braWny farmhands
and domestic servants His plan is TO lecture
on the advantages Of Maryland in the chief
European cities and to make special plea TO
married persons, offering all such the best pos
sble inducements TO join in tickling the ground
and scrubbing the kitchen floors of Maryland.
Judging from the secretarys reported state
ment Of his plans, one might suspect that he was
hurrying of to Europe In search of rest. Surely
he cannot hope to furnish the State of Maryland
with farm and kitchen help by any mere lecture
tour. 1t may be that his plans are more far
reaching, but If not somebody ought TO advise
him Of the true magnitude of his undertaking.
And the reasons for this are many. In the first
place be It known that If heaven is not reached
at a single bound a farmland is not reached in
ten The call Of the town is too enticing; the
call of the wild is obeyed chiefly by unprogres
sive men and Jack Londonites. Il is a great
pity, for the real opportunities of farming are
to-day large, while the pleasures of the Harlem
fat are. to say the least somewhat abslnthc. The
one very real superiority Of town over country
always has been its social life But even this Is
being rapidly lost thanks TO trolleys, telephones
and the incipient development of village COM
munal life. But the European working classes
know nothing Of this change; being all brothers
or 0TSL cousins OF SOMEBODY IN New YORK CITY,
their minds are not open to the arguments OF
the farmer. In order TO win over the unimmi-
grated 10 the cause Of Maryand's untitled fields
and unwashed dishes Mr.. Trappe Will have TO
break down the tradition that New York and
a few other large cities are cO-extensive with
America and prosperity No mere series Of
lectures will suffice for this. And still less will
lectures in large European cities accomplish the
purpose. The European city dweler IS neither
craving country life mlserably paid that
pretty pictures Of Maryland Will break down his
metropolitan prejudices overnight.
1t would profit Mr.. Trappe more TO move
against the small villages. But here too an
important condition conspires against him In
every European country from time immemOrlal
the farming classes have lived almost exclusively
in villages, from which daily expeditions are
made TO the fields and orchards. The city habit
is thus hereditary in virtually all prospective
immigrants, and they are loath to go TO take up
foreign farming save In large colonies 1t is
very likely then, that immigration agents will
have to persuade groups Of families en- mGSse-
a difficult task and a slow one. Marylands
need of new farming communities, however Is
not great as her need Of lHborers to man the
farms now under cultivation. The immigration
agent IS avOwedly in search Of men and women
who are willing to go wherever work Is now
awaiting them. He will find it much harder TO
enlist foreigners for this purpose than TO get
them to join immigrant colonies composed OF
their countrymen. Many of the Southern
States are succeeding very we'll in drawing to
themselves such colonies but, while these serve
| admirably to develop untouched resources. they
fail utterly to relieve the immediate urgent need
for hired labor.
It may be that extensive, well organized
system of rural agencies might secure the kind
Of labor desired If So the suggestion is in order
that the various states searching for hired help
ought to combine their funds and forces in such
enterprise. inasmuch the cost would be
considerable. The example of the transatlantic
steamship companies ought to be followed in a
general way, but that involves the employment
of many men and the investment of many dollars
in advertising and cash inducements.
We fear. though, that immigrant colonies can
| be broken up and distributed, as scattered Ia
borers, over large areas only after their mem
bers have had some experience with American
| life The process going on in and about New
York City is doubtless natural and typical and
1t suggests that the Southern States might we'll
centre their efforts upon the foreigners within
our gates. Anybody who has been watch
| ing the circular empire of one hundred miles
| radius centring at the New York City Hall
I'LL up TO its rural circumference with colonies of
| Italian and Russian garden truck farmers will
| be willing TO believe that the Southern States
| can supply their needs mere as well as abroad.
| There are thousands of immigrants disillusioned
about the sweatshop and the slum and ready to
| strike back into the smaller villages as the
Italians are doing. Though they will probably
move southwark only in large groups vet this
| step VIII bring them one degree nearer the
| farmers who wish TO employ them. few years
in rural communities will suffice to disintegrate
them, and then the task will be done
For the sake of the Inhabitants of our large
cities, as well as for the farmers interests. we
hope that Maryland and her sisters will ha-
rangue our local hordes relentlessy. II immi-
grafton is economically distributed everybody
| will be the gamer. But success may cost a
pretty penny, and its coming may be long post
poned by reason Of worldwide dearth Of non
1 Asiatic labor. In nation wanderings involving