The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-09-25
OPPOSED TO IMMIGRATION.
Senator Latimer Tells of lis Impres.
siOns During European Tour.


sions During European Tour.
Greenville, Sept. Ex-senator Lati-
mer gave out his first interview today
since his return from Europe. The
senator favors restricting immigration.
Says he will fight for federal aid to
drain the swamp lands in the lower
part of the State and continue his ad-
vocacy of the national good roads
plan. He is a candidate for reelection.
Among other things he said:
From what l saw of the class Of
people we are drawing our immigrant
supply from in Europe l am satisfied
that we sohuld not be making any
effort to induce or stimulate any
more foreign people to come to Amer
lea, than we are now getting. I am
not opposed to people coming here
provided they promise to make good
citixens and will help build UP our
institutions and benefit our country
and hindrance, as Is now the case
In some of the larger Northern cities.
We do not need the class that will
come simply because their passage way
Is paid or because they are promised a
job on this side Of the water. I am
inclined to restrict immigration, rath-
er than foster It,
i am opposed to the State or cor
porations furnishing money to pay
the transportation Of any immigrants
into the United States, but believe our
best policy IL to be content with the
natural growth Of population. Over
population In America will result In
the same conditions that now exist in
Europe. which Is low wages and pow
erty on the part of the poor people.
We had better let some Of our land
lie Idle and get Is or IA cents for cot
ton than to undertake to work all of
our lands and take lower price for
our products.
II think our mills would be better
of In the long run to let few Of the
spindles stand idle and sell their goods
at the high price they are now getting
in the United States than to run all
their spindles and take a lower price
for the products. In other words, to
sum up, think We ought to be con-
tent with the prosperous condition
that we now enjoy than to attempt to
change that condition by adding to
our population the undesirable immi-
grants from Europe who are now
proving so unsatisfactory in the cities
and States where the bulk of them
have been going for the last few
years. EuroIe has more people to
the square mile than the United
states, but Europc IS much poorer per
capita. over there, there is a wealthy
class and a poverty stricken class.
Certainly we have no desire to bring
about such conditions here. Wages
are lower in Europe than in America
and work Is harder to get. I should
like to see our waste lands under cul-
tivation. but I would not like to see
the wrld over supplied with cotton
and our, farmers, merchants and man
ufacturers suffer because Of unsettled
bound to arise under such
Senator Latimer stated further that
he did not favor the steamship line
about to be established between Char
lesion and Trieste. because, as he
said, 1t would result in bringing to
this country some OF the most unde-
sirable class of immigrants. If, how
ever, he said, a line could be estab-
lished to Liverpool, or Harvr,,
France, he would be delighted, as this
would result in en- immigration move
ment that would be desirable t. this
state.