The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-04
WILSON'S VIEWS
!. ON IMMIGRANTS
Representatives Of big Busi-
j ness" Misrepresent Him.
WHAT He WROTE IN HISTORY.
He Did Not Say That All Those Coming
From Poland, Italy and Hungary
\ Were undesirabIe-His War on Spe-
oiaI Privilege Caused tho Attacks.

Were Undesirable-His War on SPe-
sial Privilege Caused tho Attacks.
BY A. J. SCHMITz,
Democratic Nominee For Governor Of
Wisconsin In 1910.
Written for the Milwaukee Journal.]
Representatives and friends of so
called 'big business" enjoying special
privileges and some friends OF other
candidates for the Democratic nomi-
nation for president have wrongfully
and unjustly but diligently circulated
reports charging Governor Woodrow
Wilson with having said in his "His-
tory of the American People" that
the Immigrants to this country from
Poland, Italy and Hungary were un-
desirable additions to our population
and were, as citizens, inferior to the
Immigrants to this country from China.
The reports and charges so made
and circulated are doing an injustice
to Governor Wilson. He did not say
that all the people who emigrated
from Poland, Italy and Hungary to
this country were undesirable addi-
tons to our population, nor did he say
that Cinnamon would make as good
or better citizens than immigrants
nom those countries.
What Mr.. Wilson Wrote.
Governor Wilson says, "Throughout
the century (meaning the hundred
years prior to 1880 men of sturdy
socks Of the north of Europe had
made up the main strains Of foreign
blood which was every year added to
the vital working force Of the country
or else men Of the Latin-Gaelic stocks
Of France and northern Italy"
When Governor Wilson speaks OF the
'tsturdy stocks" coming to our shores
from the north of Europe" and
northern Italy," which added to our
''vital working force.'' he certainly In
cluded in the quoted description OF
such immigrants the hundreds OF thou
sands of people who came here from
Poland prior to 1880 and those who
came from Italy and became part OF
us and contributed much toward the
upbuilding of this country. Poland Is
part OF northern Europe, and her peo-
pie who emigrated to this country prior
to 1880 to become q part OF US are GER
tainiy included in the complimentary
description of Governor Wilson when
speaking Of the immigrants who came
to this country prior to that time.
.~ Change In Immigrants.
Governor Wilson speaks thus of some
Of the immigrants who came here from
1880 to 1890: Immigrants poured
steadily in as before, but with an al
teration Of stock which students of at
fairs marked with uneasiness." he
speaks of the multitudes Of men of the
lowest class from the south Of Italy
and from Hungary and Poland, 'men
out of the ranks where there was nei-
Their skill nor energy nor any initia-
tive of quick intelligence. men whose
standards of life and work were such
rs American workmen have never
dreamed Of hitherto"
8 l. Importing Contract Labor.
The evil of importing contract labor
into this country became so extensive
that congress found it necessary to en-
act stringent laws making it crilni-
nal offense, and there can be no ques-
ton that the immigrants brought here
by hundreds Of thousands under con-
tract were the ones referred to by
Governor Wilson in his history. in
speak ing of that class he does not re-
fer to all immigrants who came here
during the period from 1889 to 1890
from the countries mentioned, but to
that certain stock that came here dur
ing that period which made students
of affairs feel uneasy.
The main opposition to Governor
Wilson's nomination comes from these
sane protected monopolies and from
the combines and trusts who imported
the cheap pauper labor from Europe
under contract to compete with and
take the places of the native laborers
and those who came here from all
parts of Europe. including Italy. Hun
gary and Poland, because they wanted
to come, whose ambition, energy and
desire to better their condition caused
them to leave their homes, relatives.
friends and country.
Wrongs Done by Monopoly.
4 Governor Wilson more than any 9th
er candidate for president exposes
: with matchless ability the wrong done
by monopoly and special privilege and
with the same ability suggests sane
and safe remedies for the wrongs to
legitimate business and to our people.
Because Of this all the books, articles
and letters he ever wrote are searched
to find some words or lines that he
has written about men or about ma
tionalities or religion that may posi-
bly, with great ingenuity be construed
TO bis injury. The representatives Of
monopolies and trusts know that by
stirring up prejudice they can use
large body of good men, men who suf-
fer most from monopoly and trusts, to
defeat the man who lights their bat