New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
EODF =.

When the great exodus of alien laborers began
last November there was not lacking select
circle of solemn crOakerS who assured us that
the rats were leaving the sinking ship. This
remark not meant rs n slur upon the de
parting much as proof that the l niteN
States was destined TO pass seven lean years N
retrenchment poverty and sackcloth. The mag
nitude of the impending misery was measured
b. the number of outbound steerage passen-
gers and after three months Of the most con-
gested eastward traffic mere words could no
longer sound the dolefulness Of the situation.
There is to this hour abatement in the
homeward rush. Reports covering the first sev-
enteen days of this month show that within
that time 3GG56 persons have left the country
by steerage which IS more than treble the num-
Der that left during the same period last year.
and Il correspondingly sharp decline is noted
in the number of immigrants. All Of which is
supposed to spell Woe with capital letter.
1t is interesting therefore, 10 consider a few
aspects of the exodus which have not been gen
orally noticed. The most instructive OF these is
the manner in which Italy seems to have met
the situation. During the last three months
probably not far from hundred thousand men
have poured into Naples, Genoa and Palermo.
When the thrush began the government Off
cials were terrified by tie prospect of having
q huge army of unemployed on their hands, and
unusual measures were taken to distribute and
find work for the returning wanderers From
the fact that italian newspapers are giving
scant attention to the matter it may be in
ferred that the supposedly impending cOnges-
ton and its accompanying disorders have not
occurred. A glance at the economic situation
il Southern Italy explains the mystery. The
dearth OF unskiled labor in that region has
been menacing the prosperity OF the entire ma
ton vineyards have been going to decay, and in
the rural villages empty houses have stared
the few inhabited out Of cOuntenance.
No wonder. then. that the land has sucked up
the iniowing stream Of workers like a dry
sponge. Doubtless the laborers who have re-
turned with the most money are not Fastening
to the stubborn fields. but soon as their funds
have been reduced by easy city life the little
wooden satchels will BE packed and they will
join the workers under the smiling sky Italy
may well think Of the adage about the Ill
wind" when dwelling upon the recent American
disturbances.
But the astonishing ease with which Italy has
redisributed her sons cannot be fully under
stood without taking into consideration the well
organized efforts of the government itself. If
our own states were to attack the difficult
problem of placing the unemployed intelligentIy
and in hearty cooperation labOrers with even
smattering OF English would not be tempted to
return to Europe, for sentimental reasons.
A minor question suggested by the exodus con
Germs the accuracy of the statement that there
are one hundred thousand unemployed laborers
now in New York City alone. VIII not those
who vouch for this tell us how many OF the
unfortunate army have tucked away tidy little
sum. part of which will be spent on steerage
ticket in case they fail TO find work here? If
the charities and employment bureaus come in
touch with only half of the men pouring into
New York with the intention Of taking ship if
luck doesn't turn, and if all these newcomers
are enrolled In the jobless army simply because
they apply for work. then this army is much
less formidable than report makes ii.