The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-12-31
CHEApENs LABOR.
immigration Is Lowering Stand
ard Of Living.
EXCLUDE THE oRlEnTALs.

Professor jerks Declares That Societ,
Is Menaccd by the Admission Of Ia
norant Foreigners - Workers tho
Chief Sufferers.
Immigration to the Taited States il
IN urgent need Of Legislative restric-
tion. according to Professor Jeremiah
w. jerks, the Cornell university econ
omist and member Of the United
States immigration commission. which
has been studying the question since
1907 and which has submitted rs re-
port to congress. Professor sJenks re-
Gently spoke before the members Of
the University OF Pennsylvania Chris
tian association.
He declared that foreigners are COM
Ing In such large numbers that 1t IL
impossible to assimilate then, and that
the rate of IlnmigratiuH will continue
to increase unless laws are passed To
keep 1t down. He said that II had
been proved beyond question that the
coming of these foreigners. most of
/ them from the countries Of southeast
ern Europe, and their presence In the
labor market resulted In the lowering
Of the standard Of living among the
laboring classes.
He urged that the Chinese. Japanese
and Hindus be excluded absolutely,
Immigration Of slow gradual char
! acter, he said, was to be desired. as II
supplied the country with needed Ia
Dor and store of artistic and intel
lectual ability latent but possible Of
development.
The conditions affecting immigra-
ton have changed completely In the
last twenty-five years. or the l.3r50-
900 immigrants who came to this conn
try In 1907 more than 50 per cent
came from the countries of southeast.
ern Europe whereas twenty-five years
| ago only 10 per cent came from these
countries and the remaining ST per
cent came from the most enlightened
countries of northern Europe. These
| early immigrants came as settlers.
| seeking homes and escape from reli
gious and economic bondage.
Thfrty-fve per cent Of those who
come over now are illiterate. whereas
only 3 per cent of those who formerly
came could not read and write. Sew.
| enty-five per cent of the ones who
come annually to our shores are men
seeking fortunes, not homes, and 40
| per cent Of the entire number return
| to their native countries. This return
Of the immigrants to their native coun-
tries Is encouraged by their respective
| governments. who are loath to lose the
strong, hardy class of citizens.
| In considering the effect of immf-
! grafton on conditions In this country
we may practically disregard all ex-
cept the one on the standard of living.
Most Of the crimes Of immigrants are
In the form of violations of municipal
ordinances Crowdlng ls undoubtedly
an evil Incident to immigration. but
| the generally accepted idea that this
overcrowding takes place in the large
cities is misconceived. The crowding
| of immigrants Is literally twice rs bad
In the boarding houses In the mining
districts, where the congestion Is
| frightful
The great evil resulting from the
presence Of the immigrant Is the low
ering Of the standard of living. 1t IS
the deliberate Judgment Of the nine
men composing the commission. after
three and one-half years investigation.
that the immigrants are beyond all
question lowering the standard of liv-
| ing among the working classes.