Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-06
TO DISTRIBUTE LABOR
Aim of New Division of the I'M
migration Bureau.
Mr.. POWDERLY EXPLAINS
Trying to Send the Alien Where He
Is Most Needed.
GETTING MUCH INFORMATION
Work Done Is as Much for the Bene-
At Of This Country as for
the Foreigner.
Mr.. POWDERLY EXPLAINS
GETTING MUCH INFORMATION
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald,
by WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

| Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
| Mr.. T. v. Powderly. chief of the division
Of information N the immigration ONCE.
| says that there has been a revival of the
demand for labor within the last few
days, which indicates that business is
| looking up. The office Of which Mr.. Pow
| derl.- is the head has been established
for the purpose of distributing immi-
grants where they are most needed
throughout the country. ard he Is In oor-
| respondenee with large employers OF la
Dor. They apply to him when they want
help. and he, through the agents of the
bureau at Ellis Island. diverts the new
| arrivals in that direction.
1--WE have had calls for 200 900 people
since the division was organized" said
Mr.. Powderly, but, all at once, a few
weeks ago, there was stoppage Of the
demand and many requests were cancel
ed. Now the same requests aare being
renewed and other people are writing US,
asking for ten. twenty. fifty and even
five hundred laborers. which shows that
activity is reviving. that the contractors
are getting busy again and that the sit
uation generally is looking up more than
people realize. We know where they
want men of all kinds. laborers. 1arm
hands and mechanics. and why they want
them and what they are willing to pay
We keep in touch with the labor market
in various pavts of the country. from the
farms as well as the factories, and We
try to supply 1t. We are not yet thor
oughly organised. but are doing some
thing and>are increasing our facilities as
well as our knowledge every day. But
the law under which this division Is or
ganized ought to be broadeaed, and I ex-
pect 1t will be during the present Con-
gress.
Restricted by the Law.
1.-THE law says that it shall be the duty
of this division to promote a beneficial
distribution of aliens admitted into the
United States among the several states
and territories desiring immigration: it
requires us to gather from all available
sources useful information regarding the
resources, products and physical charac-
teristics of each state and territory. to
publish such information in different Ian
guages and distribute the publications
among all admitted aliens who may ask
for such information and to other per-
sons as may desire the same. That does
not go far enough. We want the law
amended so as to allow us to distribute
our publications on shipboard after leav-
ing the port of embarkstion. so that the
immigrants may study them on the way
over to this country. If we confine our
selves to the letter Of the law we cannot
won't ask for this information. How
can they? They do not know that we
have It to give. them, and the physical
characteristics Of the different states and
territories DO not interest them. Moth
ing interests them except opportunities
for work, and the practical way would
be to give us authority to tell them be-
fore they land where they can get it on
the best terms for themselves and where
their families would be most contented.
After they land it is difficult to give them
information because of the excitenien mt
and confusion.
I'VE should be authorized to send men
in uniform with every immigrant ship,
SO that they may be recognized as OFF,
Gals of the government. The immigrants
will have confidence in information re-
ceived from them. So many have been
buncoed that they are afraid of asking
questions or even talking to strangers.
Our men should have liberty to give them
good advice, and we have lots to give; to
| find out what they want and what they
| are accustomed to. SO that they may be
able to tell them exactly where to go.
If this Is done after the ships sail there
Dor law. and I believe Secretary Straus
will ask Congress to unite our hands.
He understands the situation and knows
what IS necessary.
Establishment Of Branches.
"In order to make our work more ef-
fective, we are establishing branches in
New York. Boston and Chicago, so that
newly arrived aliens can come here for
Information and advice after they leave
Ellis Island. When he passes through
Ellis Island an immigrant is disturbed in
mind: he is anxious about himself and
his family; everything is strange to him.
and he really cannot tell what he wants
or Judge what Is best for himself. He is
fearful of losing his money and of being
swindled. and he wants to get away as
soon as possible. so he follows the crowd.
After he has been in the country a week
or two and has been unable to get work.
he will not go back to the immigrant
station for fear of being deported. But
If he knows that the government of the
United States maintains information bu-
reaus for his benefit at the great indus
trial centers, where he can find out
about opportunities for employment, he