Little Falls herald., 1914-03-13
BURNETT 1MM1uRAT1oN BILL

+ BURNETT INGAdIuRATION BILL
= Judge Hugo Pam Of Chicago, in an
address on the Burnett immigration
bill, said in part: E.'i --.-f
''We must first Of all remember that
the immigrant who now comes over,
does not come to take the place Of
the skilled laborer. He is of the un-
skilled class and ccues to fill the need
in our country. The German, the
Irish, the Scandinavian has vacated
the place that the new immigrant has
come to fill. We will suffer if we close
off the source that is supplying this
want. Nothing is more false than
the statement that the immigrant
helps to lower industrial and social
conditions. Turn to the south, the
most backward section of the country.
The percentage of immigrants going
there is the minimum. ct see what
conditions prevail there. Child labor
is not only tolerated, but assemblies
refuse to pass restriction bill. Wo-
men are slave driven, working hours
unlimited, labor unions hardly known.
In the states where immigration is
Illinois is fair example. In the i'm
been reduced since 1872 in the woolen
industry alone from SO to go hours a
week, to So to 58 hours. Among the
so-called desirable citizens from
northern Europe only 10 per cent be-
long to organized labor, while among
the so-called undesirable immigrants,
Is per cent support organized labor.
In the south, vl2 per cent of all labor
is child labor. In the great immi-
grafton states Of New York and
Massachusetts only 8 per cent and 81
per cent respectively of all labor are
constituted by child labor. They call
the italian immigrant a bird of pass
age and say, for instance that after
they dug the subway of New York,
they took their hard-earne0 coin back
to Italy. Yes, it was declared, but
they left New York it's subway, which
Americans would not have dug.
''They say the immigrant will low
er American political ideals. In
Green County, Penn, where citizens
sold their votes for from $1,000 to
$45.00 on primary day, there were
only 81 aliens among a population of
7,467 natives and 80 negroes. In
Adams County, O., 1900 citizens were
disfranchised for selling their votes
and in this county there were only 1877
foreign born residents.
''They say that the immigrants
coming from the countries which will
be especially Disseminated against by
the Burnett Bill lower the moral
standard of our country. Still here
are figures that tell another story.
''Out Of every 10000 immigrants
representing five of the so-called de-
sirable nationalities admitted, ALA
persons were deported for prostitution
during the years 1908, 1909 and 1910.
In these years only S.2 persons out of
every 10000 Jewish immigrants and
SO persons out Of every 10000 south
ern Italians were deported for the
same reason. Still the Jew and the
southern Italians are called undesir-
able immigrants and said to lower the
morality Of the country. Aliens are
now barred for mental, moral and
physical deficiencies; feeble minded
ness, moral degeneracy' and incurable
and contagious diseases. This is as it
should be. The figures L will give
show how few Of these undesirable''
aliens the present restrictions keep
out. For every 10000 immigrants Of
the same five desirable nations who
applied for admission, 17.6 persons
were barred by the present restric-
tions. For every 10000 Hebrews who
sought admission only 9.4 persons and
for every 10000 southern Italians, on
ly 4.S persons were excluded by the
same restrictions. Now we probably
realize why some arc 80 anxious to
place further restrictions and bars for
the Jew and Italian. Those now in
force scarcely effect him. And what
is the new test that he must pass be-
fore he can come in? He must prove
himself able to read and write. The
alien who comes to our doors is turned
back. He has sound arms, strong
heart and clear head. But he must
60 back. He can not read a few
words. We don't want him. If he
Mt read and write because he neg
lectel to use the opportunities to
learn in his native land and he posses
ed the means to enjoy their use, yes,
then, bar him. But if his fatherland
never gave him an opportunity you
dare not bar him without trampling
on every principle Of justice and right |
On which our institutions--are founded,
and Oh which they were nourished.
Let the United States not impose ad-
ditional hardships on the innocent i'm
migrant who has never had an oppor-
tunity to do what she asks, but let it |
like powerful nation compel these !
to educate their children. If |
she is bound to- act in the matter, that |
is the only fair path open to her.
NOT ALL OF THEM
Waseea Herald: It was surprising
to see the number Of state officials |
and prominent politicians who were on
hand to extend the glad hand t. the 1
editors at their convention in Minnea- 1,
polls last week. The office seekers