The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-29

Der. Washington and Oregon will
gain some. but the greatest gain Is
going to be by the Dakotas and Mon
tana, and only by jumning in and
helping increase the total volume can
Washington and Oregon expect to get
a larger number of settlers during the
next two or three years.
Would Increase Numbers.
I'VE are organized for the purpose
Of people who would naturally come
into seven northwest states. II 5000
gateway every twelve months at pres
ent, we believe we can double, and
hope to make it 5000 cars next year,
II you have been getting 200 carloads
out Of every thousand instead Of get
ting 500 carloads next yea we do not
believe there Is n question but what
you will get 1900 cars. and there
r two and a half families on the
average to tho carload Of Immigrant
goods.
Fail to Respond.
But recently we had an example
OF h power Of cooperation to Sc
We wrote to the same 100 CONNER
cial clubs asking that they write their
congressman and senator's urging
their support Of measures which
would establish a domestic immigra-
ton policy. You would be surprised
to know that less than thirty clubs
in the northwest answered this COM
~munication: yet this is one Of the most
important measures which has ever
been presented to congress-, certainly
the most important bill now before
tho y1n{foA Sfotnu oA~oa
Policy is Negative.
For years the United States Eov.
eminent has pursued nothing but a
negative policy in dealing with aliens.
We have been concerned only with
keeping out undesirable citizens, but
We have not turned our hand over to
distribute these foreigners and get
those who were farmers in the old
country on to the lands in this coun-
try. They have not been able to Sc.
cure the information first hand, nor
from an authoritative source upon
their arrival.
Bring Them Here.
What we ask is that the United
formation bureau in connection with
the department Of commerce and la
Dor; that this bureau furnish these
aliens at the ports of entry authentic
information about the lands, the OPP.
portunities. inducements and re-
sources Of every state in the west.
printed In their own language, and
that it be made compulsory on the
department to furnish this informa-
ton. What we ask is that your state
immigration commissioner be permit
ted to go to the. ports Of entry and
present orally or otherwise. the in
ducements offered by the state of
North Dakota. II he should go down
there now, he would probably be
thrown off the dock. or arrested for
seeking to solicit these immigrants.
Policy Shortsightcd.
The policy Of the United States
will never realize the benefits which
we should from the thousands Of
aliens landing on u shores each
year until some OF these fossilized
laws and rules are changed or ex-
plunged from the statutes.
II noticed by. the papers yesterday
that North Dakota is asking a re-
duction Of the term Of residence re-
auired for homesteaders from FIVE to
three a because Of the Canadian
rules recurring only three years. resi-
dence. Here again you are put into
competition with a government which
is seeking to develop and open up its
vacant lands while your government
is requiring the longest possible resi-
dence. and apparently doing every
thing possible to discourage the home
steader. We visited central Oregon
recently. and found an old man who
mad not put very many permanent
improvements on his place, and re-
piled to q question that he had been
waiting twenty-seven years to secure
title to his land before he built any
permanent buildings thereon. II wae
held up for some red-tape reason in
the general land Office, and the old
man had reared a family. and they
had gone to. Canada to raise wheat
while u government was making up
It's mind whether or not to let the mar
have title to the land for which he
had worked for a lifetime. 49,
Should Help H0mesteaders.
If the federal government ever
sends an agent to visit a homesteader
instead OF sending such an agent to
ADVISE him. encourage him, and az
sist him In getting his patents through
they send a cheap detective who goes
to look for a nopportunity to protest
against the man getting title to the
iand: This sort Of a thing has been
or receiver Of a land ONCE in the
west who is at all conscientious. is to-
tally disguised with the red-tape In
Washington, n almost every home.
steader is discouraged.
We ought to start in together and
make a general move for a1change in
our federal land Office rules, and let
us get h most desirable people o
sible on the remaining eighty-two
million acres OF public land in the
seven northwest states. and make II
as easy as possible for them to secure
title to their lands after a reasonable
residence.
Conduct Exposition Series.
w have taken this plan to con.
| duct a AAriea NJ oYnosdt1ons 10 tAo 49,