The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-05-12
Jesse Taylor
On OnImmigration.

In PUBIC ADDRESS at lrOntOn, OnlO,
on March 8, 1910, Mr. Taylor said:
81 waLt It distinctly understood
that have no objection to offer to
the sturdy Irish, English, Scotch,
French or German immigrant, but to
the motley throng of mongrel races
coming from Central and Southern
Europe and from Asiatic countries, |
do most vigorously protest, and would
enact laws to exclude them from ad-
mission into our country
The solution of the immigration
question must be approached from the
viewpoint OF lofty patriotism, unin-
fluenced by the clamor of capitalists
and corporations for cheap labor, of
the boss" for cheap votes or the EN-
ployment agencies for dupes and
strike breakers. You must be ant
mated by the thought-yes a fact
that nation, be 1t ever so strong,
can die like the individual IL enough
virulent poison be injected into its
veins and that your highest duty is
to protect this nation which you so
dearly love.
In discussing the immigration ques.
tion many people make much use OF
the word desirable" but fail to define
the meaning of the word when so ap-
piled.
When | say desirable immigrant"
l mean I want him to be physically
we'll developed, able to earn living
for himself and those dependent upon
him. want him to be able TO read
In some language. | want him to be
OF such a character as gives a reason.
able promise that he can, by process
Of time, be assimllated by our people
l want him to have some pride OF char.
acter, and be capable of aiding In ele-
waiting American labor and morals
and promise otherwise to be a reput
able. law-ablding citizen.
An undesirable immigrant is the
reverse OF this.
The Germans, English, Irish and
other Northern Europeans always did
and always will quickly familiarize
themselves with our laws and Gus.
toms, and learn our language. They
scatter all over the country, engage
In various occupations and most OF
them become good citizens in every
sense.
For thirty or forty years by far the
greater part OF the immigration was
derived from these sources, but con.
ditions have changed during the last
decade, and now the Southern Euro
peans constitute nearly 80 per cent of
the whole. The chance of ever max.
ing a good citizen of three-fourths of
the present immigrants Is too small
TO be worth considering. The per.
centage of criminality among these
people is exceptionally high They
can not be induced TO scatter out and
settle in small towns or in the rural
districts lin most of these they are
not wanted), but instead herd to-
gether in the large cities Of the At
lantic coast, each Of which has its
foreign colony. Being thus segre-
gated, the foreigners manage to get
along without learning the English
language, and thousands Of them re-
main here for years without knowing
word Of any other tongue than their
own, and do not acquire the least con-
ception OF America, American insti-
tutions or the duties OF a citizen.
They never become citizens in any
sense; they are more properly no,
mads, coming to America for a few
months or years to accumulate what
10 them is fortune, then return TO
their native land 10 live in wealth.
They contribute nothing to this coun-
try; on the contrary, they are a seri-
Gus drain, for they send hundreds OF
millions OF dollars 10 Europe every
year, lower the standard Of living and
morals among the workingmen, and in
short time will cheaper the price of
labor.
II is the incentive OF a Job rather
than to reach a land Of liberty that
is bringing these undesirable people
TO our shores Ghe 5533, ,507 landed
during the past five years are but
harbingers OF the millions to follow,
and in addition to Jaws for the regu-
lation Of immigration from all coun.
tries, laws should be enacted to pro
hibit immigration from certain sec
tions OF southern Europe the same as
we exclude the Chinese.
We should go at least one step
further in our general legislation and
add ignorance to poverty, disease, and
criminality as valid ground for ex.
clusion. Those who advocate It main.
tain that 1t excludes In practice, and
with few exceptions, only undesirable
immigrants, and II 10 not aimed at
any class, race or religious creed.
Since 1895, as shown by the records
at Washington, the illiterates over IA
years of age who, by their own ad-
mission, could neither read nor write
In any language, numbered 2,l92, ,662.
The figures in detail are as follows:
1886 ,...,.......... S3,l96
1897 ......,...,.... 44,580