New-York tribune., 1907-09-09
HHFGRATTOV

Congress and the American public have been
for some time past weighing the advantages
and disadvantages Of practically unrestricted
immigration. 1t is pretty generally concedeu
that immigration on the ldtsses fGire plan has
been a failure The United States needs LABOR
and to get It for the purpose of Fastening ma
terial development is willing 10 shoulder the
resultant burden of political and social asslnl-
iation. But under the go-3s-you-please S! !sten
alien labor is not distributed so as TO 90 the
greatest possible good and the task of assim-
ilation is doubled by the creation of inert alleh
colonies in the chief centres of population,
where they only aggravate congestion and add
to the difficulties of local administration Our
problem is to distribute immigration and said
the incomers to points where they are real!
needed and can contribute something or posi-
tive value to national development
The commission created by Congress 10 study
immigration in the countries in which it orig
mates can probably do good deal toward
helping Congress to frame further restrictive
and reg1llative legislation. Senator Dillingham;
of Vermont the head of that commission and
the chairman of the Senate Committee on I'M
migration. reports on his return from Europe
that the governments Of the various European
countries are also interested in the influx 20
this country of 20 many thousands OF their
subjects and citizens. From the European pollt
of Wow also emigration has its advantages ana
disadvantages. The present drain on the pop
ulation Of the kingdom of Italy for instance
IS enormous more than one hundred ana nIIF
thousand Italians being drawn annually 10 Oe
United States and large numbers also 10 AT
centina and Brazil This exodus at hrst re-
Inved tha struggle for existence In the over
populated agricultural districts. but it has
finally reduced the labor supply there and
caused q partial labor famine. 1t has operated
besides 70 decrease greatly the quotas avail
able for military service. On the other hand.
Italians are to a high degree unassimilable. ana
they return in large numbers To Italy with the
savings which they have accumulated ABROAD
or send those savings back for investment IN
that way Italy is materially benefited and the
shining industry is stimulated by the constant
inflow and outflow Of lahorers. Probably few
Russians Hungarians and Austrians return To
their homes. for they find American surround
ings more congenial and. like the Swedes Nor
wegians North Germans and Irish come here
not as exles. but to cast their lot with us and
IN he fully Americanized. The Greeks, Ar
menians and Syrans are more like the Ital-
ianS in viewing their soiourn here as a mere
money making and money saving episode.
Senator Dillingham; thinks that large share
Of our present excessive immigration IS due
70 the activities of the steamship ticket drum
mers although the solicitation which they prac-
tise Is forbidden by our laws. Congress onght
70 60 further in discouraging artificially stimu-
lated immigration But the chief problem Is
still to reduce the exploitation of our labor
market for the benefit of aliens not intending
TO become citizens and not especially fitted
for citizenship. and the distribution of the labor
offered 70 points where It may become politically
as well as industrially a benefit instead Of
detrment