The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-19
WOULD AMEND
FEDERAL Law

10 secure an amendment to the
federal statute regulating the immf4
grafton of aliens into the United States
making it obligatory on the general
immigration commissioner to gather
and publish all available Information
about the resources, vacant lands and
physical characteristics of each state
and to distribute booklets in different
languages to the aliens coming to the
United States, the Northwest Develop
ment league is opening a strenuous
campaign.
Letters, resolutions, suggestions and
arguments as to the necessity of this
work are going out from the ST. Palll
office of the league to all congressmen
and senators, Attention is called 10
the fact that the present commission-
er of immigration can do little or
nothing to assist foreigners in secur-
ing reliable information about vacant
lands and opportunities in the aeri-
cultural states. The policy of the gov
eminent is purely negative, devoting
its attention to keeping out undesirable
aliens.
The league proposed that the immi-
Il - 49, DaA d1SO FOIu1AIdI1lY give
each man and woman who arrives 4
number of publications printed in
their own language, directing them
where they may find an opportunity
to get onto the land: that all this in
formation should be collected by the
government and when published by
the government, the aliens will have
more confidence in it than if it was
given them from n other source.
Another provision asked is that
when a state or territory desires to
do SO. an agent may be sent to any
immigration station and under regula-
tons prescribed by the commissioner
Of general immigration, the agent may
have access to aliens who have been
admitted to the United States for the
purpose Of presenting orally or in
writing the special inducements Offer
ed by such state or territory.
Sen. Norris Brown of Nebraska has
introduced the amendment in the sem
ate and the league lis asking Cong.
Charles F.. Pray Of Montana to
support the bill in the house and to in
troduce a bill making such appropria-
ton as the secretary Of commerce and
labor may deem necessary to carry out
the work outlined in the amendment.
1t is understood that the secretary
of commerce and labor fayors the
amendment and viii also support an
appropriation for the work. The
league is urging the cooperation of
the secretary and the president Of the
United States. as well as sending no.
tices to all commercial organizations
in the west and northwest.
s'The settlement Of the vacant lands
and the distribution Of population is
Al proper junction Of government
says Pres. Lewis Penwell of the
Development league. stQt5ler govern
ments are spending large sums of
money in this work and are getting
good results. There are thousands Of
aliens who were farmers IN the old
country and who desire TO farm III this
country, but who are unable to ind d
proper location because there III no
existing agency I'd move them IN which
they have sufficient confidence,
When these people flgst arrive
many Of them have sufaeient means
to- start up on d farm but IL permits
ted to 90 into the cities they are
stripped of their resources by high
costs and perhaps never again get as
much together ais they had when they
arrived. The time To tell them about.
the Opportunities on our vacant lands
lis when they first arrivebeforo they
have tasted the city II tho CITY has
tasted them
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