Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-26
kept OUT Of CANADA
Exclusion of Negroes Because
of Climatic Conditions.
OTHER REASONS ASSIGNED
Members of Race Likely to Become
Public Charges-Canadian
Sentiment on Reciprocity.

Negro immigration Is to be kept out of
western Canada on the grounds that the
rigorous climate is destructive OF the
physical we'll being Of negroes, and that
they are likely to become public charges.
This Is to be the attitude Of the Domini-
can government in dealing with the race
issue which threatens to become an inter-
national problem. with the United States
obiecting to discrimination against Ameri-
can citizens. The Canadian law gives the
authorities power to keep out immigration
which may not prove desirable.
\ confidential report on the immi-
grafton situation was laid before the
State Department today by John Ed
ward Jones' consul general OF the
United States at Winnipeg. Mr.. Jones
will be in Washington for some time.
consulting with the State Department
on this and other subjects pertaining
90 his duties.
Emigrants from Oklahoma.
Negroes have been pouring into Canada
from Oklahoma, where they say they
have been disfranchised by the constitu-
ton Of the new state. Thousands of them,
1900 is one estimate, are now in Canada.
For years. ever since the civil war. in
fact the negro settler has been welcome,
and received on terms OF equality In
Canada. Recently, however, there has
grown up a prejudice against the negro,
reported as due to Objectionable features
of intermarriage with the whites, and 10
the fact that many negroes have become
public charges. Their inability to become
acclimated under temperatures that some
times reach as low at 20 degrees below
zero in the far northwest, and the ire
sponsblity Of many members OF the race
are complaints cited against them by the
Canadians.
In the Peace River valley homesteads
have been taken up by thousands of
colored people. Here the cold of winter
reaches intensity, and it is not regarded
TO thrive and prosper under conditions so
foreign to its origin. Experience mas
shown. assert Canadians. that the negro
cannot cope with the conditions, and that
the negro becomes unable to care for
himself.
There is ample provision under the Ca
madam law. the Dominican authorities
believe, to deal with the problem.
1t is declared that negro exclusion can
be accomplished without raising any in
ternational difficulty with the United
States.
Races Is Protesting.
From all over the United States, how
ever. prominent members of the negro
race and negro organizations are taking
up the matter. Protests have come into
the State Department in great numbers.
What response the State Department will
make to these excited protests remains
to be determined.
Delicate considerations are involved. In
view of the fact that the United States
government does not protect the negro
from diSfranchisement in southern states,
but does hold him entitled to the same
rights and privileges as the white man
under foreign treaties and conventions.
Canada has not heretofore discriminate
ed against any race of immigrants eX-
cept the Chinese, who are subjected to a
heavy head tax. Japanese laborerS are
kept out under a tacit agreement with
ment that they possess 500 each.
Unanimous for Reciprocity.
The farmers Of western Canada, Mr..
Jones reports. are unanimous for reci-
procity with the United States. There is
some politics played over the question, he
says. but the sentiment Of the section is
Overwhelmingly in favor of the reci-
procity agreement.
The race question In western Canada
was raised by white settlers in Alberta
and Saskatchewan, who are anxious to
keep negroes from settling on homesteads
in that section.
The boards Of trade of Edmonton and
OF Winnipeg have taken up the white
mans cause. and have passed resolutions
Of protest against the negro invasion Of
northwest Canada.
The Dominion government Is in SYM
pathy with the protestants. 1t has de-
cided to invoke the law to check the
undesirable immigration.