The San Francisco call., 1908-05-24
WHEELER SAYS THE
STATE WILL PROFIT
Assistant Secretary of Com
merce Tells of Plans Re-
garding immigration
Proper Distribution of Workers
From Europe Is a Great
Problem

If the present plans OF the immigra-
zion authorities for the better selection
and distribution OF European immi-
grants are carried out California viii
profit more than any other state"
Thus spoke ". p Wheeler, newly ap-
pointed assistant secretary OF COM
snerce and labor and member of the
immigration commission. on his return
10 his home city yesterday. Wheeler
viii not assume the duties Of his new
position until he returns TO Washing
ton in June, and at present he is here
IN connection with the formal estab-
1ishment OF the Offices. Of the Pacific
subdivision OF the immi grafton COM
mission. OF which body he has been a
member since its creation by congress
last year
Wheeler SIS chairman OF the Pacific
division OF the commission and the
other two members are Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge OF Massachusetts, and Pro
fessor J. ". jerks of Cornell
MITCHELL TO CONDUCT WORK
At the request of Commissioner
Wheeler the regents OF the University
OF California have granted a years
leave OF. absence to Professor Wesley
Clair Mitchell. who will have charge
OF the field work OF the commission in
the Pacific subdivision. This territory
includes the Rocky mountain as well as
the Pacific slope states. Professor
Wheeler and his assistants will make
an exhaustive and systematic study of
the conditions surrounding present i'm
migrants on this coast with the object
OF ascertsining what nationalities are
best suited 10 this section. An effort
viii also be made 20 find out what i'm
migrants are most desired by the ma
tives OF this district
DISTRIBUTION A PROBLEM
In connection with this phase Of the
work Commissioner Wheeler said:
The question OF distribution is the
gravest problem confronting the i'm
migration officials at the present time.
The new bureau created TO attend to
this question promises TO DO great
things under the able leadership of T.
v Powderly, and the immigration COM
mission viii make use of all its powers
10 assist in this work OF prime i'm
portance- The problem Of selection is
not so difficult, for IL is beyond dispute
that the United States has the un-
qualified right TO exclude whomsoever
Il plesses from its shores But after
an immigrant has once landed there is
no law that can compel him 10 go to
any certain place. The result is the
dangerous condition OF congestion
which now prevails on the Atlantic
coast Why. when I was in Europe
last year I met returned immigrants
who had been In the United States for
eight years and in conversing with
them had TO use an interpreter. These
men had been in the coal mines and
steel mills, and when they were thrown
out Of employment the great oppor-
tuntties OF the west rem&hed a closed
book 10 them Yet they are all trained
for agriculture from boyhood."
NEEDED IN CALIFORNIA
Wheeler does not believe that an
educational qualification win raise the
moral tone Of the southern European
immigration On this point he said:
The members OF the Maia and other
criminals come from the Italian towns,
where they have been taught 10 read
and write. while the immigrant from
the rural districts where the common
schools have only recently made any
progress are the bone and sinew of the
country
California is the ideal place for
these sturdy italian agriculturists.
Last year we got 20 per cent of the
immigration from northern Italy, and
fu the list OF states receiving foreign
Immigrants California now ranks
seventh. Our climate and agricultural
conditions are so favorable for the
Italians that this state is well named
sunny italy.
Italy is but slightly larger than
California in area, and yet with Its
ss.Oeo,000 people the cry is already
being raised that there are not enough
10 till the soil With our great re-
sources. think how many agriculturists
We could support
In the selection and distribution OF
immigration the country viii be aided
as much as the immigrants, and no In
1.sx will be encourage which cannot
be assimilated-