New-York tribune., 1909-10-03
THE UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANT DEFINED AN EXPER

No: we are getting comparatively few Germans
for instance 1t is the same with the Irish the
Scotch and the English. The mass OF our lnni-
grafton is composed OF people from Southern
and Southeastern Europe"
How can they be prevented from filing up the
large cities and Oversupplying the demand for com
mon Iabor?"
Il wish 1 knew" Mr.. Williams answered. ..As
yet have not made many experiments but the
few immigrants / caused to be sent away from
New York were back again inside OF two weeks
1t is the nature OF the aliens who here to live
in cities, Many of them Jews. They are small
traders and merchants. and physically and
temperamentally unfit to work on farms In
Argentina the government pays the railway fare
OF the immigrants who desire to settle In rural
districts venture to say that if to the
densely populated East Side of New York and told
the people the government would supply them with
tickets to the South and West, where farm labor
is needed and wages are good, scarcely any of
them would agree to take the chance and move.
THE last census showed that most of the Poles
in Illinois were in Chicago. and that most of those
in the State Of New York were concentrated in
New York City and Buffalo OF the total number
OF Italians in Illinois, - per cent were in Chicago.
and Of those in New York State 50 per cent were
in New York City. The Russian Jew. "A rule,
settles in one of six states. Government reports
tell ms that the slums of New York, Baltimore
Chicago and Philadelphia made up in large part
OF persons from Southeastern Europe. nearly half
of whom cannot read write. The congestion OF
very grave social problem. and free 20 confess
that can give no help to It's solution"
do any aliens. except Italians return TO their
homes when times bad?"
1T was found two years ago, during the depres-
sion in business that other nationalities initiated
the Italians that peculiar respect. Some persons
believe that the ebb and flow of immigrants during
periods Of prosperity and hard times is good for
the country-that IL is a safety valve through
which dangerous and explosive elements escape,
10 the peace OF society and the welfare Of ALL But
such an opinion may be entirely fallacious. Who
goes back Europe when the mines, mills and
factories stop? The good or the bad? II the bad
return TO their old homes, this country Is we'll rid
Of them II is sensible 10 think, however, that the
good 90 and that the bad remain.
Most Of our Immigration" Mr.. Williams con-
tinued 'ls of value to the nation. shall say thst
60 per cent of 1t is of such n character. Perhaps
"a per cent would be nearer the facts of the case
Still | shall concede only 60 per cent by way or
illustrating what l want to say. OF the - per cent
remaining we can by law exclude one-haIi or 70
per cent Such excluded immigrants would embrace
the classes / have Ieady mentioned-ahafehists'
q, nyicted criminals, and SO on-and lmnoraI women
procurers and other social Outcasts We can stop
The scum and dregs OF Europe, hut we cannot STOP
the remaining 70 per cent which though II may
contain neither poygJmsts, IDIOTS, insane or dis'
,ased persous paupers. nor former cohVc's 10 ui1-
desirable In every respect. The best ana "ors'