Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-07-10
IMMIGRATION NOTES
DURING LAST rs YEARS RADICAL
CHANGE OF CLASS
is NOTED.
MOSTLY FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE
AS a Class Is More Temporary in
character-Send Millions of Dol
lars Back Each Year-Averaae
About Two Years Each.

1t is conceded that we Americans
who come from Europe ourselves
have no moral right or desire to den,
Europeans the privilege of comm,
here with the object of lettering thei
condition; provided. of course, tn,
character of the immigrants is fairl.
satisfactory, industrially, socially ant
politically.
This country would never have in
creased in population and developed
its resources and settled it's land Sc
rapidly as it has, except for a steady
influx of European immigration
which has been mainly of a desirable
class.
During the last Is or 30 years, how
ever, there has been a radical change
in the character of immigration we
have been getting from Europe. I'm.
migration statistics show that down to
about 1882, approximately IS per cent
of our immigration came from Eng
land, Ireland, Scotland, the Scandina-
Wan countries, Germany, Holland and
France, while, since 1882, about SO
per cent of the total immigration (now
much larger) has come from Italy,
Austria, Russia, Turkey, Greece and
the other countries of southern and
eastern Europe.
A study of the last four censuses
also demonstrates that prior to about
1882 a majority of the immigrants
(then coming mostly from northwest
ern Europe) settled in the central and
north central states, where they en-
gagged in agriculture and other indus
tries and professions, took an active
part in the general development of
the great west, adapted themselves to
American standards of living and be-
came thoroughly assimilated with the
best elements of American citizenship.
Since 1882, however, a large and in
creasing majority of our immigrants
(now coming mostly from southern
and eastern Europe) have been going
into the Atlantic division Of states,
where manufacturing interests are
largely developed, and are congregat-
ing in foreign centers in the large
cities, resisting the forces Of assimila-
ton. Only SO per CEN of this new
immigration seeks naturalization,
while So per cent of the old sought
this privilege.
This new immigration, as a class,
is more temporary in character, CON
sists more largely of men, either
single or who do not bring their fam
lilies with them, who work for the
lowest wages, live on the lowest scale
far below the American standard
and send many millions of dollars
back to Europe every year.
The older immigration came to this
country with the intention of remain
ing here permanently and there was
practically no return of the admitted
immigrants. The fact, however, no
ticed during recent years, that the
"ebb" of European immigration now
averages about 80 per cent of the
'f1ow," is causing us to study this
return movement in connection with
the fiuidity of the supply of unskilled
labor, which has been so largely util-
lied in construction works and in the
development of the manufacturing re-
sources of the country in the last
decade. This "ebb" and "fow" may
be accepted as registering the condi-
ton of the labor market in the United
It has been noticed that in
times of depression and slack demand
for labor there is a falling off in I'M
migrants and an increase in the num-
Der of those returning to Europe. In
this new immigration we have tapped
a supply of common labor that is suf-
fciently fluid to come and go as need
ed. Obviously, this should be of eco
nomic advantage II we have, or so
long as we have, periodical demands
for cheap labor In excess Of the supply
Of American common unskilled labor.
Otherwise, because of the character
Of this new immigration, 1t presents
an industrial problem similar to that
Of Asiatic immigration.
This annual return of 80 per cent Of
The total immigration is probably
to a so per cent return Of
the fluid" labor class. showing an
average residence Of about two years
this class OF immigrants.
fThis is the fourth Of a series Of
articles on immigration: the next VIII
appear soon.)