Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-08
ExPATRiATE vlRolNlANs.

emigration, Il had not consulted the
census figures. the study OF which
shows that the Daily Press was In
error In assuming that in numbers
Virginia was receiving fair ex-
change for its expatriates.
Our Richmond contemporary cour-
tcously calls us TO account and pro
duces statistics In support OF its posi-
ton which should cause every Nir-
gilman to sit up and take notice.
In part the Times dispatch says:
"The esteemed Newport News Press,
commenting on The Times Dispatch s
emphatic protest against the heavy
losses TO Virginia through emigration,
argues that this wholesale expatria-
ton while depiorable. is to be expect
ed and cannot be resisted. The Press
attributes It chiefly to the migratory
fever" of youth, and thinks that the
story OF Virginian probably is the story
of every State in the Union II says:
Probably for every Virginlan that
has gone TO New York, TO Pennsyl-
vania or TO Illinois. we have Il New
Yorker Pennsylvania or an llli-
noisan in return. Restlessness and
ne migratory tendency are not con-
fined TO Virginians.
This theory would be COMFORTING II
| II could be accepted as authoritative.
But unfortunately the facts are quite
against the Press. According to the
| last United States census there were
1.366.7s1 native white persons of Vir-
ginia birth living in the year 1900. Of
these. only 1.054,1ol were then living
| in Virginia. That is to say. 3l2.6SO
native Virginia born men and women
were living In Otner States. In the
same year there were living in Vir-
ginia Just SLIP native-born white per-
sons from ether States. That is to|
say, the migratory fever" as Illus
trated between States. had left Nir-
ginia with a net loss OF 215.56S OF her
cwn population in the year 1900. In
the face Of these figures. it is idle
to delude ourselves with the thought
that expatriation eduaIizes itself, and
/ that Virginia gains in one way what
/ she loses in another. The unfortunate
| fact Is that. on the basis of native
bern population. this State is losing
almost four persons for every one that
| 1t gains.
These States which are being built
lup at Virginia's expense are seat
tered all over the country. In NV
York, which the Press cites. there
were living 6.572 Virginia born rer-
sens in 1909. In the same yea" ;Leie
were 4.434 native New Workers iiv-
/ ing In Virginia. Pennsylvania, which
the Press also cites, had 1857 native
lvirginians in 1900, while Virginia had
1852 Pennsylvanians. These statistics
may be considered fairly favorable 10
!, the theory that migration Is, on the
whole a give-and-tane affair. But
Illinois, another OF the Press's cita-
tions, had 1925 native virginians in
1900. while Virginia had only st4 IlIi-
noisians. indiana had 1856 Virgin
ians, but Virginia had only 800 In
dianians. Kansa~ had 1912 Virgin
ians. but Virginia had only s47 Kan
sans. Washington had z.4s2 Virgin
ians, but Virginia hsa only 81 Wash
ingtonians Idaho had ss2 Virginisn5,
, but Virginia had only IdahoaBs.'
In the same issue OF the Times
! Dispatch appears a communication
from a contributor headed Why lie
Left Richmond" which follows:
"Sir.5 read with great interest the
press notices about the boys leaving
Virginia, and the press asked the rea-
son why? That is very easy ques-
0 lion TO answer. will cite a case
: from your city: Last fall most cap
able, energetic. sober man applied 20
one of the largest shoe houses for
n position. He was turned down and
: was told: We are putting men on
to curtail expenses We are getting
q rid of our statesmen who do not sell
a certain amount and making the eth
er statesmen travel more. We are
5 cutting out our s75 a month men and
y putting In boys and inexperienced men
n at Sf5 and $50 per month" This gen
;leman told me he had practically the
same thing ted him In several places.
y So he went TO Pine Blur. Ark. (and
in the whole city there are more Viz
; ginians than nativesl. where he got
nj place at $3.50 q moath as traveliug
salesman for a grocery house. He mas
made good. Richmond has always
y been q very one-sided- place. they
D want all the work and ley do not pay
le for u. II you viii look along those
n lines. YOU will see Why the boys leave
Virginia and 20 elsewhere.
~Toano. May >. BONUS.
Doubtless the case cited By Bonus
was exceptional
" But II Il be typical. the cause foi
u lfho .~,,sv--,ffo~ rf x-irVint,rs 49, n.