The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-03-19
THE GOLD LEAF
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1908.
A Premium on Undesirableness.
Charlotte Observer.

Charlotte Observer.
1t is one indefensible feature of our
strange immigration laws III their
practical workings that the floating
DopnlatiOn from Eastern Europe re-
cpiyes preference above the good
workmen and good citizens whom
we might get from England, Germany
and OthercOuntries OF Northern Eu-
rope. Confronted by virtually pro-
hibitive restrictions when he wishes
to bring over expert wOrkmen, peO-
DIE of such requirements and charac-
ter that they have made themselves
fairly comfortable at home and will
not cross the seas without some nrg-
ING, the employer is compelled to re-
cruit his labor from among a scum
which pours into the country when
ever employment is dull. English
speaking mill Operat ives, in particu-
lar, are pre-judged as law-breakers
when they come to this country and
they and those responsible for their
coming are harassed i'll various
manners, as North Carolina mill
managers can bear testimony, where
as hOrdes ofundesirables from South
ern Italy and Hungary enter unchal-
lenged. Instead of people who would
display civic pride and become sup
pOrters of law, and consumers, we
are getting people whose only design
is to execute q raid upon us.
The South is Just beginning to APP
proach conditions with which New
England has long cOntended. Com
menting upon the fact that undesir-
able impOrtatiOns have been parad
inc the streets of Western cities with
red flags because unemployed at
present, the american Wool and Cot
ton Reporter, of Boston, expresses
itself with much feeling. "ln the coun-
tries from which these recent impor-
tations' came" says our New
England contemporary, ''marchlng
through q town or city carrying red
flags would be Il signal for shoot
ing match and the Government sol
diers would be behind the guns, yet
in this free and easy America they
can carry their red flags and do it
under Government protection to q
great extent, as this same class Of
undesirables are largely government
pets, let in by the shiplOad without
difficulty and sent out again when
they have raised all the good Ameri-
can dollars they can, to take back
with them Then follows language
which may serve asa warning. "The
South and its negro problem,' we
are told, will be an easy one in five
years, unless there is q change in the
situation. The North will be over
run and ruled by class Of men who
can hardly make themselves under
stood to Engiish-speaking people. y
Further:
There is only one solution to the
problem, in our opinion, and that is to
treat these undesrablcs as we treat the
Chinese, and then permit States to sup
ly the wants of their respective manu-
featuring industries BY commissioners
answerable to the State government
these commissioners to bring in under
contract desirable citizens for work as
experts in their several trades.
New England in her textile industry
has certainly had her fill of the irrespOn-
sible hOrdes that have filled her manufac-
turing secllOns, anu HOW lndU tllneS are
dull, many of those who have not raised
money enough to leave the country are
more or less on the town, burden, even
a nuisance, and a growing expense, as
they are permitted to-"
The South has troubles peculiar to
itself, but the troubles here described
as weighing heavily upon New Eng
land and the North is as yet little
known. That this section must soon
begin to face similar conditions or
else see its industrial growth checked
for lack of labor. is however, I'M
fortunately certain. The only rem
edy would seem to lie in reform
OF immigration laws, and any ra-
tional movement for such reform
may doubt upon cordial support
from the Southern press and people.