Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-12
SARGENT ON IMMIGRATION.
Federal Commissioner Talks About
South Carolina Experiment.

In ain interview with w. W. Pierce,
the Washington correspondent of sew
eral South Carolina papers, a few days
ago, Commissioner General Of Immi.
grafton Sargent spoke Of the dissatis-
fed state of some of the immigrants
who arrived in Charleston on the
steamship Wittekind. He had read
Of the homesickness caused by the
small number of one nationality In the
different communities and also the in
efficiency Of a large number of the
immigrants as mill hands. Mr.. Sar-
gent said:
South Carolina Is making the mis-
take of all communities newly inter-
ested in the immigration Of labor, that
is, only looking to the present and for
getting the benefits to be derived In
the future. The people expect to get
results in the first year or so where 1t
would be impossible to get permanent
results for many years to come. When
in Charleston last fall, when the first
ship came in, I noticed that there
were a large number OF boys ten or
twelve years old among the immi-
grants. These must be the hope OF
the state. It is entirely natural that
homesickness should arise among i'm
migrants where there are so many
different nationalities and so little
common sympathy among them. It
Is also natural that II better condi-
tions are found elsewhere they are
sure to move, and, although they were
brought there at the expense OF the
state they are free to go where they
are offered the best inducement. AL
though the older immigrants may
move in large numbers some OF the
Younger ones and their children Will
stay and years hence, when these chill
dren are Of age and they In turn nave
children, permanent benefit Will be
the result. The same trouble has been
found among the immigrants tnat
have gone to Honolulu. After arr1v-
ing there they found out that better
inducements were offered in California
and therefore many left for that state.
Another mistake being made Is the
set idea to find employment for the
immigrants in the cotton mills. The
immigration department Is more IN
teresting in settling Of homesteads
for this will lead to contentment ana
permanent residence. The immigra-
ton authorities can do nothing 10
stop the moving Of the Immigrants
out of the state, so 1t Is up to the peo-
pie to offer conditions that Will sat
isfy these foreigners, and no better
way can De IOunu llldil liilt ptoP
that is, induce these people to settle
down on land and take to farming,
leaving their employment as mill
hands to the future. for their children
that grow up on American soil are
sure to look to the mills for employ
ment in the future, and by that time
more factories will be in operation TO
meet the demand Of increased LABOR
and also the labor then will be OF a
better quality. Do not forget that ma
ture is the mother Of men and ner
product from those immigrants that
settle on farms in that state are sure
10 make efficient men when they be-
come used to the changed conditions
and familiar with the American coun-
try and people. ,,,o
Mr. Sargent is perfectly familiar
with his work and understands wnat
Is necessary for permanent dement's
from immigration. .o.o
Mr.. Sargent will visit the state
shortly to look for a site for the new
Immigrant station at Charleston ana
perhaps he will look into the present
condition and give some IDEAS that
will help the situation.