The Washington times., 1914-11-13
IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS

lNIIMloNA lOlN NJDLLNIS
immigration to this country has
fallen to a small fraction OF its nor
NAL numbers, and is likely not to
resume anything like natural condi-
tions or proportions until after the
end of the war.
After that, it is generally be-
lieved, the movement to the United
States, or to other parts of the
world, will be very heavy. Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, South Amer
lea, are all reported preparing to ex-
tend special inducements to the de-
sirable classes of immigrants. 1t is
quite safe to anticipate that what
ever success other countries may
have in securing immigrants, how
ever, the United States will get the
lions share. 1t would be well to
take up, at this time, while there is
breathing spell, the question Oh
whether this country will get a.
desirable an average quality of i'm
migrants as will 60 to other lands.
After our own civil war one of the
greatest emigration movements ever
known in the world took place. Hun
dreds of thousands of young men
were released from the armies, and
went back to their old homes, to
find that there was not much imme-
diate demand for their services. Hav-
ing acquired taste for experience
and adventure, they didn't stay
around home looking for something
to amuse them; they struck out for
the great West, took a quarter-sec-
ton or half-section Of land apiece,
and set about the business of build
ing a dozen new States. Their States
are now important members of the
Union.
We may reasonably anticipate tina,
the war in Europe will bring some
what similar results; but it is b.
no means certain. There may be
contrary result, and the authorities
are by no means united in opinion rs
to what will happen. The European
war is going to cause terrific sacri-
flee of life, and when it ends the
governments will do all in their
power to keep the survivors from
moving away. Our own Government
had no occasion, at the end of the
civil war, to protest against young
men leaving Ohio in order to build
Kansas. Kansas was part of our
country; we wanted it settled; we
lost nothing by that migration, but
instead gained new State.
But suppose, at the end of our
civil war, half a million vigorous
young Americans had bundled their
goods into portable compass and
started for Australia? Suppose as
soon as they got there they had sent
home for wives, parents, relatives?
Suppose, in short, the whole vast mi
grafton of the first twenty years af-
ter the civil war had been emigra-
ton, taking away the young blooo
of the nation just when it was need
ed to build and restore the wealth.
destroyed by the war? What would
have been the attitude of the Gov
ernment in that case?
Very apparently, the Government
would have done everything in its
power to discourage the emigration,
and we may be very certain the gov
ernments of Europe will take more
vigorous measures than ever before,
when this war is over, to keep their
young men and women at home.
Germany, for instance, will be deter
mined to restore it's fullest measure
of wealth and power just as soon as
possible; and German prosperity will
not be long coming back. Great
Britain will need its manhood as not
before in decades; and moreover it
will make new efforts to direct emf
grafton toward the British domains
across the sea, rather than. to alien
countries. Most of the other coun-
tries will be of like mind and policy.
If we are privileged to draw great
numbers of Immigrants from any OF
the European countries, very prob
ably they will come from countries