The Washington herald., 1908-02-10
Mrs. QuackenbOs Has Plan
to Aid the South,
WORKS WITH IMMIGRANTS
Believes Organization Could send
Newcomers to Agricultural Fields
of south and West-SpecInI Agent
for Department OF Justice Discusses
Her Work for Government.

been engaged for a year and a half un-
der the direction Of the Department Of
Justice in preparing the Deonage cases
in the Southern States.
She was, Of course, acting under the
instructions Of the Attorney General
but in working up the evidence In these
cases she has been put in the position
by many Southern people Of attempting
TO destroy the white labor supply OF
that section OF the country. II is pos
sbly true. also. that the prosecution Of
these peonage cases has retarded the
flow OF European labor to the South. at
least temporarily. For that reason Mrs
Quackenbos has been put in the position
OF being an enemy Of the development
of the South, and resolution is now
pending IN the House Of Representatives
calling for an investigation Of the whole
peonage question as developed by her
reports 10 the Attorney General
Has New scheme.
II will be a great surprise TO many
people. and particularly TO those in the
South. who have been denouncing these
peonage prosecutions, TO learn that Mrs
Quackenbos has originated a scheme for
the settlement Of the labor question in
the South, which seems 10 be as prac-
tical as It is novel Her plan is entirely
independent Of the government, and is,
of course. not based upon any action by
the Department Of Justice. on the other
hand. she proposes a voluntary associa-
tion Of the Southern planters and man
ufacturers, the railroad and steamship
companies. the foreign consuls general
and the immigrants themselves, the sole
object being 10 divert the stream or
foreign labor from the congested districts
Of the East Side IN New York 10 the
cotton feds the mills. the lumber camps
and the mines of the South.
Coming from such a source. this pr0po-
sitlOn will unquestionably attract atten-
ton I'm the South and IN Congress, be-
cause its object is TO supply the South
with white labor, and at the same time
protect the immigrant labOrer by assuring
him a good home. fair treatment and an
honest contract
knows Her Subject.
Mrs. Quackenbos is intimately acquaint-
ed with conditions in the tenement dis
trict OF New York and for a year or
more she has been studying the white
labor problem in the South. so that she
is probably the best authority in this
country now on the relations between the
North and South as applied TO the immi-
grafton problem.
My connection with the peonage prose
cutions." said Mrs. Quackenb0s, 'is en-
tlrely official 1t would not be proper %
speak upon that phase Of the subject now
because many Of these cases are stiil
pending.
There is also the condition in the
North 10 be understood. Hundreds of thou
sands Of European immigrants are COM
ing 10 this country every year. The great
mass, as every one knows. drift az once %
the tenement districts Of New York and
Boston. or 20 the mill. the mines, and the
railroad camps Of the North Atlantic
slope The European laborer is not going
10 the place where he Is most needed and
where ne can get the best lot himself.
Must Convince Immigrants.
First OF all. you must convince the
immigrant that 1t is to his interest TO
go 10 one place rather than another. You
cannot effect any permanent change by
persuading a few hundred families 10
60 10 a particular section, even if you
pay all their expenses. II is Indispensable
that they should be well treated after
they get to their future home. Unless
they see the prospect of a good liveH-
hood. and, above all, unless they are
treated as friends, you viii get none 10
follow them The best advertisement is
always the letter of the new settler 90
those who are left behind in the father
land. Get an agricultural labOrer from
Italy or Southeastern Europe. and II
makes little difference whether he is on a
sugar plantation in Louisiana, in the
cotton fields Of the Yaz00 Delta. or Cul-
tivating grain in Kansas.
There has been a complete failure 90
attack the problem on the basis of co-
operation OF all the interests involved
Nv own attention TO conditions in the
South was first attracted through my
work on the East Side I'm the protection
Of immigrants against the vicious prac-
tees of uuScrupulous labor agents. Since
then ] have come 20 learn and % be-
Iieve that the South offers splendid
field for the peasant of Southeastern Eu-
rope, and I desire to do all in my power
to help the people OF the South secure
the labor they need, because al the same
time we shall also diminish some of the
evils of the congested tenement districts
of the Northern cities.
Must Be Cooperation.
There must be corporation to attain
such an end. and tie experience OF the
last year or two has given me an idea
for an organized effort in this direction
I would rather prevent peonage than
punish it. and I believe that if the South
ern people VIII go at the problem in
telngently and in a liberal frame of mind
they will solve it 10 their own satislac-
ton, while the country at large will bt
the gamer through the radical bettermeni
in the condition OF our new foreign citi-
zens."
What is your plan for securing such
cooperation
In the first place" said Mrs. Quack-
enbos. Il believe an association could be
created which would be purely vOlun-
tary. and which would represent all in
terests involved. For that reason I would
go outside Of the government, although
the active sympathy and cooperation OF
the government would be Indispensable
have not formulated the details, but
believe an organization could be formed
which would represent first. the employer
including planters. millers, lumbermen
miners, and all other industrial promo
ters. Secondly. I would represent the for
eigners themselves by inviting the active
association Of their consuls general OF
other officers designated for that pur'
pose by their ambassadors or ministers.
Thinks Plan Feasible.
Il honestly believe" concluded this
shrewd student of social problems, who
has combined the law with settlement
work, that such an organization as
have outlined is entirely practicable. i
would be joint association of immigrants
and epoDloyers and II could be SupDOTfed