The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-07-18

D
Wilson, by virtue of his office a
member of the presidents cabinet
This mans record has always been
good and one member of the confer
ence in position to know stated that
every confidence could be placed in
him. That this delegates statement
Illustrated by the fact that Secretary
Wilson is at present holding a large
number of undesirable immigrants
in Seattle. A few days after your dele
gate had returned from Portland he
was informed that within day or so
the Minnesota would land in Seattle
and that on board were over $50 Hin
dus and some fifty-odd Chinese seek
ing entry into this country. And sure
enough when the vessel locked there
were PSI Hindus and about forty Chin
ese, ostensibly students-and by the
wy, these Chinese were being brought
over by one of the educators whom |
previously mentioned in this report
woman, too, if you please. In order
to obtain entry to this country it has
been the custom of certain interested
parties as far as the Hindus are con-
cerned, no to bring them direct from
India, but to Temporarily land them in
the islands and then reship them as
citizens to this country. This whole
bunch has been held in Seattle, Secre-
tary Wilson having very broadly con-
strued the immigration laws to mean
that person seeking entry here must
not only show clean passport upon
arriving, but he must also show that
he is able to live for time and make
a living after being admitted.
Upon invitation of the conference
the plans and purposes of the Oregon
State immigration commission were
explained to the delegates by G. G..
Chapman, secretary of the commission,
and Judge Thomas G.. Burke, also a
member of the commission. This COM
mission was created by an act of the
Oregon legislature and backed by an
appropriation of $4,000, the object of
the commission as explained by Mr..
Chapman being to attract settlers from
the countries of Northern Europe to
the vacant lands of Oregon by means
of literature printed in the language of
the country in which it is to be cir
culated. When asked if was the pur-
pose to circulate this literature by
agents of steamships and others who
would profit by induced immigration,
Mr.. Chapman replied that it is the
plan of the commission to distribute
it to foreign-born residents of Oregon,
they to send it to their friends in the
old country.
Following Mr.. Chapman's address
some of the delegates expressed them
selves on the matter of booster" lit
erature in general. While not question
ing the quality of the matter, nor the
method of circulation one delegate de-
clared that he was of the opinion that
all immigration advertising was done
in clear violation of the laws.
Aside from thorough discussion of
the subject of immigration the most
important action taken by the confer
ence was the adoption of plans for
carrying on the work suggested by the
various delegates. This came before
the conference upon the report of the
committee on permanent organization
late Saturday morning. The report as
presented was signed by the entire
committee, but as stated by one of the
members on the floor it did not ex-
press the views of the committee and
should be treated accordingly. The
report originally suggested that a per-
manent organization be formed, that
officers be elected, the secretary to be
placed upon a salary of $40 per month,
to be derived by levying an assessment
against the various bodies represented
in the conference; that the secretary