The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

There are no soldiers Of fortune or
adventurers among these people. They
are toilers. Sometimes they are out
laws-members Of dire secret societies.
Always they are men who have had
no chance in life Their station is that
of the peasant. They are uncouth and
unattractive. They fall far short of
measuring up to the American stand
ard.
From among these people a score OF
years ago a few found their way to
America. Fugitives from the laws were
probably the first. In the new land
they set to work as had been their
custom at home. They were willing to
labor hard and uncomplainingly. They
received the wages of the new land.
At first they were unable to grasp the
fact that they were actually entitled to
such vast sums. For day they were
paid the equivalent OF months salary
at home. They boarded the precious
money. Soon they were able to send
home for other members of their fami-
lies. Perhaps they went home and told
the tale of their fortune. They were
not believed. But a few were induced
to attempt to duplicate their accom-
plishment- These latter told the same
story. So many told the story of
wealth and sent home the riches that
proved 1T that the peasants came to
believe. Every man who came to Amer
lea started an endless chain. He wrote
home OF his exploits. His letters were
read to the neighbors. The whole viii
lage became familiar with them. Each
successful immigrant OF this year
meant score next year. The tendency
has been for the movement to pyramid
itself They are pouring into the land
or opportunity. The tide is still rising.
There is an unhealthy stimulus given
to the movement by certain steamship
companies and money loaning agencies,
as these have great opportunity to ex-
pIoit the immigrant. Commissioner
Keefe in speaking of the findings of
one OF his agents In this connection
says:
He shows quite clearly that all Of
the steamship lines engaged in bringing
aliens from Europe to this country have
perslstently and systematically violated
the law both In it's letter and spirit by
making use of every possible means to
encourage the peasants OF Europe to
purchase tickets over their lines to
THIS country They have issued cir
culars and advertisements and made use
of extensive correspondence. some of II
spurious In character, TO impress the
peasants with the belief that EMPLOY
ment with high wages could be prompt
ly secured on landing In the United
States. Some of them have Joined
hands with money lenders and other
sharks for the purpose OF exploiting
the prospective passengers. providing
them with passage under credit sys-
tenn which amounted almost to robbery
and assuring themselves against loss
by taking mortgages and joint notes.
Some or them have quite evil
IDENTIFY operated regular employment
agencies in this country in connection
with their transportation business and
have used these agencies not only as a
means of placing the aliens in empIoy-
ment Qn which, of course. they could
have no direct interest). but to further
the transportation business by making
the fact of their securing prompt en-
ployment the basis for effective COM
munications, written and oral, 10 other
parties they desired to induce to emit
CRATE"
Through the medium of these two
agencies the whole of southern Eurona
is looking toward America The snfrit
has permeated into western Asia. and
the movement from that section "a
starting The peasants are mortra sinr
every earthly possession that the nrfce
of passage for some of their number
may be raised. Then, this forerunner
of a family makes American money and
others are brought over.
From the standpoint of the fmut-
grant and the upljfter great good Is
being done for the man who had never