Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-24
BRIGHTER SIDE
OF IMMIGRATION
Senator Dillingham; Tells Wash
ington Vermonters about It
Society Elects Officers

society or NcrmOntcrS Mt the WASHINGTON |
club house was ono of tho hest attended
meetings ever held ana numbered over
n hundred people. After the program, a
social hour was enjoyed while luncheon
was served
Tho feature Of the evening was
speech by Hon. W. +. Dillingham;, the
senior senator from Vermont, on the
subject of immigration. In the audience
were Senator Page and family. Judges
Stafford and Robb and G. c. Billings of
the patent office.
The senator spoke of the fact that in
tcrest IN the immi Sration question came
in waves at different periods OF our his
tory. The first wave of alarm was at the
lime Of the invasion from Ireland just
before the civil War. During the last
70 Years the country has been seized
anew ny fear " the alien invasion, and
the immigration laws have been amend
I'd 20 meet the conditions. Tho carly i'm
migration came from northern Europe,
Aut Of late wears the vast ma orty of
tie ',uni.rnnts come from southern Ed-
rone Tie senator showed the bright side
Of the irnirIatiou problem by showing
how the ud- ui Immigrants was largely
regulated by the law Of supply and de-
mand Of labor in this country. lie told of
tho tremendous growth Of our Industries
and agricultural pursuits since the war,
tho vast extension Of our railways. and
he showed now this could never have
been brought about without the Euro
pean labor which came over in answer to
this need. All Of This development came
as result Of tho national self confidence
,1,f Of ltn
War Our farming area vas then opened
II the middle west equal to the area OF
several European countries. and the
great German and Scandinar Wan Invasion
came over When the war opened our
railroads measured about 80 on miles. or
enough to &c 70 times across the cpnu-
nent To-day we have enough 10 girdle
the earth at the quarter nine times OF
course these people were attracted to our
shores because Of our better conditions
of living. In many parts Of Europe Skill
cd Labor gets but from 20 to 50 cents for
ten hour day. Besides have fine
schools and the immigrants are more
anxious to have their children become
educated than are our native Americans.
This is especially true of the boyn.
NATIVE, BOYS NEGLECT CHANCES.
The senator spoke especially of the fact
that the majority OF the graduates from
! high schools in our Vermont towns We're
! girls ard that the boys did not seem to
| appreciate the educational advantages
set before them. The senator then spoke
of the fact that statistics show that in
the high schools in congested centers at
| tended by Immigrants the boys are the
earnest students. particularly the Jewish
! boys. and in many of these schools g.
per cent OF the graduates are boys.
The senator said you may talk about
native stock but unless You educate this
natives stock and discipline the minds
| of the boys they wont stand the test
The senator intimated that our schools
should not make 50 much of examining
but should teach the boys to think.
The senator refuted the statement that
European countries dumped their unde.
sireables ON our shores. by showing thai
at Ellis island know exactl!
intelligent reasons for coming here
In al interesting manner he told how The
Immigrants already here write back home
where a letter from America is Otter
passed all through the European village
1t is in this way that the European emf
grants are kept posted as to conditions
in America. The ones who come her
are the intelligent and thrifty classes
Resides our laws are very efficient il
excluding undesiyables The steamship
companies must carry back all undeslra
bios whom they have brought over an
must Jay a fine for having orauGh
them. This causes the steamship com
panits to examine them before they cav
Europe. having regard TO our laws. tn
great German lines BRING oNc" man
who have gone from Italy and RllsSl
up TO German seaports. II any IF tines
were undesirable the steamship coinp1n
les would leave them In Germany, am
this displeased the German government
Hence that government stationed patroi
all along the German frontier nj whic
Italians, Russians ana other European
desiring TO emigrate to America are ~
amined by Germans according to he 70
ouire.nents Of the American laws,
GOOD CARE OF IMMIGRANTS.
Under our laws az thus carried ou- "
excluded 5000 aliens in n single yea
% lis at the ports Of erba rkation, III
at the German frontier patrol station
= and 1900 from the United States.
on the otheY hand we take good car
of those who do come. At Ellis islam
they are well treated. They are Quit
helpless when they arrive because tn
language Is new ard many have com
from country districts. Especial care
takCr Ia .et tbcn1 IN their friends an
destination without molestation. an
they are put aboard their trains wthot
giving an opportunity TO any eXploitcr' I
speak TO them. Especial care IS take
of the girls and women and every a
fort is made 10 protect them from ~
3 white slave traffic.
The senator spoke faVorabiy of the 500
5 ton of the law which tends To distr
I hutes the immigrants around the cour
| try and guards against congestion In II
cities. He also outlined the valuable r.
4 ports soon 10 come from the immigrf
ton commission regarding conditions
. immigrants in this country,
q OFFICERS OF VT. ASSOCIATION
The Vermont Association of the Distri
u of Columbia at its annual business NEE
ing elected the following officers; Pres
dent, u. S. Fletcher; first vice presiden
John O'Connell; second vice presiden
= Col. NJ c. Hooker: third vice presiden
~. F. o. knight, corresponding sccretar
Il Grace Ross; recording secretary, e,
y Crandal. financial secretary. y. J. NJ
u Cuen; treasurer. II. T. Offterdlngcr II
II honorary presidents included the We
" mont delegation in Congress, Judge