The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-24

Over 100000 Of the adults were I'M
able to read or write single line In
our language or dialect, let alone speak
word Of English. Half of the 1885,
900 were absolutely penniless, and the
average funds per capita was less than
$50.
1t is the coming and competition of
these undesirables with their very low
standards of living. alien habits of
thought, Objectionable traits. tendencies
and characteristics, that have caused
the great decline in the number of as
similative kindred Northwest Euro
peans who have made such excellent
and acceptable settlers and builders of
the West. Strange as 1t may seem they
reinforcement OF the population of the
Northeast, since and wherever they
have settled by causing decrease in
the native birth rate as result Of
their ruinous competition md exceed
ingly low standards OF Wing. They
have an indeflectible tendency to ana
fondness for the city slums and sweat
Chief Justice Wahle, OF the New York
City magistrates, and by Police Com
missioner Bingham. that are responsible
for the crime waves sweeping over the
big cities, particularly crimes against
women and young girls.
Additional vigorous restrictive Fed
eral legislation is imperative in the
way of an increased head tax, the pos
session OF certain amount OF property
or money, the ability to read and write,
some evidence of good character, such
as passport and local consular certi-
ficate, and devices that will be some
real test of the. aliens character,
calibrc, capacity and fitness for citizen
ship In an enlightened political and in
dustrial democracy. England, South
Africa, Australia and British Columbia
have such measures. and 1t is high time
we were doing something effective to
counterfeit the profit-makng selection
by foreign steamship companies of our
imported Americans.
Such Legislation would enhance the
chances on the South securing dcsir-
able immigrants, for IL the steamships
cannot bring undesirables they will
I'LL their steerage with desirables.
Northwest Europe and Great Britain,
with the exception or Ireland. are more
over-populated than ever before
You people of the South are in con-
troll of the situation. The financial,
transportation and other selfish in
terests having loaded down the North-
east are now turning their attention
to your territory, and in order to block
needed Legislation, are making it ap-
pear. through the press boards OF
trade. meetings. conventions, confer
ences and the like. that the South
needs and will welcome not only the
distribution of the foreign born now
gorgins the Northern slums and tene-
ment houses. but also the incoming
tide OF promiscuous immigration.
or course. the weary charity work.
ers. the city officials, the Transports
tiOn and will r.1o Il
join in any such plan. as 1t will mean
relief and nroft to them,
You have had some experience with
ono other race. which was imported to
solve an alleged slmilarlabor problem.
III my opinion there are even greater
dangers In present proposals to till
your mills. settle Your lands, operate
your mines and populate your towns
with alien browntsh races akin to the
negroid. As yon know, wherever they
have gone. as In Louisiana. they have
shown disposition to mix with the
negro.
Economically, YOU might profit by
this cheap labor jug. as our ancestors
We're able to IN developing the cotton
industry and other resources by means
of the negro. In short time you
could double the population of your
cities, and perhaps quadruple the
present ACotton crop. IN an even shorter
time Your minerals could be mined and
your timber cut.
But have not VIC gone too far and too
fast already In depletips our forests?
What Is the use of all this mad rush
to develop all our resources with such
hot haste by any kind OF labor? At
last. after many years of hard and self
sacrificing effort and the worst afflic-
tons any people ever underwent. you
have the negro where he understands
you and You him. and you are a happy
and contented people. What about fn-
ture generations? Why hasten the
day when there Will be such u dense
population as In Europe, and when 1t
will press down on the means Of sub
sistence In such "a poverty stricken
way? Why fly from present Ills, what
ever they may be, to ills you know not
Of, but the Northeast does? Why not
leave something for your own postcrity