The Washington herald., 1909-07-25

New Orleans. July 2L-"The statement
made by the United States Commissioner
General OF Immigration, Daniel J. Keefe.
with reference 70 labor and wage condi-
tions in the South must be answered BY
| those officially empowered TO speak with
authority" said n. B. Trezevant. OF the
Progressive Union. in an interview fol-
| lowing statements made by Mr. Keefe
while in Virginia recently. with refer
ence to his opposition to the New Orleans
immigrant station, II resolves itself pure
" into a question whether the United
| States government or one OF its DEPART
ments shall be permitted TO dictate what
wages shall be paid In the South
Mr.. Keefe has stated his position IN
the press and 10 me personally he is
disposed 10 DO the fair ;blng and 10 act
impartlally as he sees fl. but I believe
a closer familiarity with conditions in
the South and a philosophical review. OF
the history OF immigration North and
South. Will convince him that his posi-
tion while correct in many essentials. IS
on the whole an unjust one toward the
South.
Wages Are n Handicap.
''The complaint that the South cannot
ofrer wages sufficient TO induce the most
desirable North European immigrants 10
settle here as against the West and
East is largely a fact. but It must also
be remembered that New York has been
the gateway Of immigration for nearly
100 years. and IL is only Just now that
the South has been promised. but not
yet given, a chance to be. through
Charleston. New Orleans and Galveston.
a gateway for immigration
Much OF our reform must come from
within If we would cope with the bet
ter wage condition Of other sections. but
the three ports OF the South should az
least be given an opportunity TO 20 af-
ter and handle immigrants IN a manner
which viii enable them 20 compete with
New York. BY this ] mean that the inn
migrant station should be built and op-
Grated
Just here is the hitch. Mr.. Keefe
could hardly. even If he so desired, pre-
went the construction OF the station.
SO told him. But. said he we can re-
fuse 10 operate it, This may be true.
ana. II so, q is clearly up 70 Charleston,
Galveston. and New Orleans TO meet the
issue squarely and fight II out 10 a finish
Would Be Waste of Money.
when I asked Mr.. Keefe why he would
lrefuse 10 operate the station when built.
he replied Il would be on the ground Of
unnecessary expenditure Of money: that
the amount Of immigrant traffic coming
via this port had so greatly fallen OF
lthore would be no justification for main
ltaining force here
When I told him that this falling OF
was experienced in New York as well as
in New Orleans, he replied that New York
had now gone back 20 and beyond normal.
and New Orleans still remained behind
Il pointed out that this was unQues-
uonably due in r large measure 70 the
VERY lack Of facilities OF which we COM
plain. He was not prepared n -efuts
this fact. but stated that properly
handled, there should be no difficulty IN
clearing a shipload Of immigrants in a
day This, then, is reflection on the
government inspectors here. as Il is wen
known that # has. on occasions. taken as
many as four or five days, and possibly
more. TO clear ships under present condi-
uons However. this IS not due 10 In
competency Of inspection, but due solely
10 lack of facilities such as is enjoyed
by New York.
Would Open the Ports.
Mr.. Keefe fails 70 grasp the fact thst
with these facilities an open ilducerAent
Is offered 20 steamship lines to turn inn
migrants 10 the South through Southern
ports 1t is an inducement TO the rail-
roads, always the pioneers IN develop
ment, 20 assist in changing the vase
/ conditions in the South OF which Mr..
heefe complains. It is perfectly true
that the immigrant, as well as any other
man, would prefer these sections Offering
the best wages. but as against this the
/ increased cost Of living IN the West and
1 North and East must be considered. The
| fuel bill for long winters. the cost OF
] heavy clothing because Of the cold clI-
mate cut a considerable figure as against
the lower cost Of living in the South.
with fits open winters and all-year-round
| cultivation.
! Personally, I am a believer IN bring
/ ing 70 the South the Americanized i'm
migrant who has lived in this country
I long enough 10 become somewhat ac-
Guainted with conditions. and who has
| accumulated sufficient savings 10 buy n
I farm and cultivate it. The same amount
! of money invested in the South would
! bring several hundred per cent higher re-
turns than On the West The rice farms
| Cf Louisiana and Texas, owned by thrifty
( Western settlers. is an immediate exam
I pie OF the advantage Of migration rather
1 than immigration
| However that may be. Mr. Keefe Is
mistaken IN some or HIS beliefs but his
/ frankness deserves our respect and equal
/ frankness. He can be reached by reason
and sound argument, and IL is up 70 US
TO see that some Of the erroneous i'm
/ pressionS he IS under are logically and
I dispassionately removed"