The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-09-27
State Immigration Agent
Tells of Difficulties EncouDt-
cred in Tying to Induce
Swiss and Austrians to
Come to America. Conference
at Palmer House Yesterday
Afternoon.


Just as keenly alive to the Nemi-
grafton problem as the United States
are all those foreign countries, from
which this country in the past has
secured its most desirable immigra-
ton. is the advice brought back to
the Kentucky state board of agricul-
ture by Mr.. Charles G. Nuremberg,
the agent of this state in Switzerland.
Mr.. Nuremberg reported TO the
board yesterday afternoon at its
meeting in the Palmer House.
Germany. Austria, France and
Switzerland have passed federal laws
that make it extremely difficult TO
solicit emigrants for this country.
These laws provide that before a per-
son can solicit emisrants, he must
be permanent resident of the coun-
try in which he is operating and even
If this law is observed, the national
governments Of those countries are
watching closely all emigration.
Statesmen of Europe are facing what
this country is facing, shortage of
labor and they are awake to the drain
that has been going on for years to
the United States.
The result is that Europe and
America are fighting. the one to re-
tain and the other to get. the better
class of emigrants. Europe is wiling
enough to see its criminal class emf
CRATE to America. and tacit encourage
ment is given this class. but is plac
ing every obstacle in the way of the
lcredulity is expressed by the Euro
pean press at the statements about
wages aud working conditions in
Kentucky. made by our agent. Mr..
Nuremberg told them in advertise
ments that servant girls could earn
from three to five dollars week in
Kentucky towns. and some Of the
newspapers in Switzerland denounc-
ed him as a swindler and a fraud His
declaration that farm hands could
earn from twenty to thirty dollars a
month was similarly received by the
press.
The south has been ALMOST ignored
in the past in the emigration move
ment. Few immigrants have ever
gotten south of Mason and Dixon,
line and the reason is, that the i'm
preston has gotten out that the
south does not pay as high wages as
the north. Another thing that has in
tluenced the trend of immigration to-
ward the north is the fact that north
ern states for many years have hae
agencies in Europe soliciting immi-
grants, while only in the last year or
two has the south done anything in
that line. Consequently, the south is
not known as is the north. Agents
of northern states, too, are shrewd
enough to connect with their agou-
cies. foreigners who have been to
this country and who consequently
recommend the section with whicA
they are familiar to their friends at
home.
Speaking of the lack of interest
manifested by the farmers in the i'm
migration convention, Mr.. f. b.
Johnson, road supervisor, said that
the impression he received from most
of the farmers of the county he had
met, was unfavorable TO immigration.
Members of the state board expressed
the opinion that II few Swiss orI
Austrian farmers should become the
neighbors Of these farmers in Nc
Cracker, the results they would
bring from the soil would cause the
average American farmer to rub his
eyes, and the competition to get theI
best results, that would follow. would
be interesting to watch.
Secretary ID. w. Coons. of the Com
mercial club, stated to the board that
the Western Kentucky Immigration
association wanted the state 10 CO.
operate with it to secure Immigrants.
The board after discussing the aues-
ton passed a resolution, indorslngI
the movement so far in this end oil
The state. and promised cooperation
A request for a larger appropriation
to the Immigration fund next year
will be made to the legislature.
Mr.. Mutzenberg's statements ex-
plain the lack OF success attending the
efforts TO secure immigrants. of the
agent sent abroad from this city and
section of the state.