The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-12-12
4GOV. BLEASE on IMMIGRATION.
Executive Makes Address at Baltimore
Governors Conference and
South Were Represented.

South met IN Baltimore To-Day VIXEN
the governors of Is States gathered
here as the guests of the city.
The Southerners held q conference
on the question of immigration to the
South and the Westerners, who are
touring the country, came to exhibit
the agricultural and mineral resources
of their States.
Besides the Southern State eXecu-
tives, the heads of several Of the
transportation companies in the South
attended the governors conference.
Ar elaborate program of entertain
-ment for the visitors was provided,
eliminating in dinner tonight at the
Belvidere at which addresses were
made by leaders in the State and Ma
ton.
Gov. Judson Harmon, Of. Ohio, was
also here as one of the specially invit-
ed guests, but he was obliged to leave
in the afternoon to keep an engage
ment in Washington.
. The concrete result of the Southern
governors conference was the a&;cp-
ton. of a resolution calling for the
appointment of a committee to study
the immigration problem in the South
and report at a future .con9erelcc.,
The visiting governors reached here
from Washington during the forenoon
and while the Westerners were being
shown about the city their Southern
brethren went into session On the in-
migration question.
After a discussion of upwards Of
two hours in which all the governors
and a number of railroad men partici-
pated it was decided to form per-
manent organization to- study the i'm
migration problem in the South. The
plan proposed by President Johnson of
the. Norfolk & Western railway was
for representatives of South railroads
to organize with representatives of the
Southern States and to meet again in
Baltimore when they have a report
ready to be acted upon. The following
States were suggested for representa-
tion: ..
Alabama. Arkansas, Florida, Geor-
gia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Ten
nessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Vir-
ginia-
Blease on Immigration.
The consensus of opinion developed
at the conference was that immigra-
ton was needed for the South; but
that only the desirable class is want
ed, not, as Governor Blease Of South
Carolina, put it, ''the exiles of foreign
countries
t1 won my campaign for election as
governor on platform urging the
abolition of the bureau of immigra-
tion,' said Gov. Blease. 1T spent
much money and only brought two
! boat loads of immigrants. I am glad
to say these immigrants are all gone.
We don't want the exiles from foreign
countries. = If we can get good i'm
migrants We want them"
The need Of attracting Americas to
he South was emphasized by all.
Fand Gov. Mann, of Virginia, pleaded
for the return to his State of A1neri-
cans who had left it.
President Finley, of the Southern
railway, Johnson, of the Norfolk &
Western and White, OF the Richmond:
Fredericksburg & Potomac railroad
spoke for the transportation interests
and pledged their hearty support to
all movements to help the South.
G. Grosvenor Dave managing direc-
tor OF the Southern Commercial con-
gres, the last speaker, took issue 1lild-
ly; with Gov. Blease on the immis ra-
tion question. He said it was unfor-
tunate that two boat loads of unde-
sirable immigrants came to South
Carolina. This incident, he said,
showed the need for care in bringing
in immigrants. He opposed any
fwholesale exclusion Of immigrants
'and said that the problem is too great
to. be hastily disposed Of
AJlJNE DESTROYED FROM, OTTSTDE