Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-10
IMMIGRATION TO
BE ENCOURAGED
RIGHTLY
EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO IN
DUcE FOREIGNERS TO Lo-
CATE ON FARMS

general Of immigration established a
division of information, whose efforts
were directed to promoting a benefic-
ial distribution of aliens throughout
the United States. Hitherto this has
been practically restricted to the large
ports, principally Ellis island It is
now proposed to extend the WORK of
this division and systematic its work.
The country is divided into zones,
where opportunities for labor will be
gathered up. classified and forwarded
tc the large ports, where incoming
aliens may be found to fill these po-
sitions. In general the effort win be
to bring together the ut alien laborer
and the suitable job.
1t is realized that heretofore the
work of this service has been almost
entirely devoted to debarring the un-
desirable citizen; it is proposed now
to set in motion machinery that will
make the desirable ones more desir-
able still, instead OF degenerating into
state worse than tnat of many that
have been debarred, through the
sweat shops and slums of oul congest-
ed cities. It has been noted that a
large percentage Of alien immigrants
have had old world experience as gar
deners, dairymen, farmers, stock
raisers, etc, and that but small num-
Der Of these obtain similar occupa-
ton in this country The work o the
division will be devoted primarily to
correction Of this tendency.
A canvass is to be made, through
all means of publicity possible, of ag-
ricultural employers, in the hope that
the employer will get more efficient
and steady labor, ana that the alien
employee will find work that he can
do, and may quickly become solid
and progressive citizen. A way must
be found to establish the good faith
of both sides. The employer must be
made to know that our service win
make itself as certain as possible of
the suitable qualifications of the i'm
migrant he is placing, and on the other
hand the service must know the en-
ployer is a responsible man, and not
like some Of those described by For
rest Crissey in the Saturday Evening
Pest of December 5, 1914, who wish
to do little sharp trading with the
raw immigrant The latter in most
cases must be taught English and
American conditions of work, but on
the other hand will have strong hands
and willing mind, a knowledge OF
work similar to that he is expected
to do is used to steady employment,
and will in the nature of the case not
expect the highest wages.
1t is expected that the newspapers
will be the most efficient agency
available for making known the fact
that Uncle Sam is in effect establish
ing al national employment agency.
The work has not yet been thoroughly
organized The undersigned has been
appointed distributing agent for the
state of New Mexico, and would vel
come practical suggestions along all
lines pertinent to the work. Is there
any demand for labor along the lines
above outlined? I would note here
that though our first effort will be
to place agricultural labor, we will
not turn deaf ear 20 bona fide appli-
cations for other labor What sug-
gestions has any one to make regard
| ing putting employers and employed
in quick touch with one another. How
may the responsible character Of en-
ployers be certified?
It is noted that there has been con-
siderable agitation Of the question Of
inviting the Belgian refugees here.
There is no present thrush of Bel
gians. My latest sulletin, that for
September, gives their total number
for the month at 159 It is probable
that immigration from Belgium, like
that from other countries. will wait
the end of the war. Those with capt
tai will almost certainly wait to see
whether or not they VIII be indemni-
fled for war losses. The men of mill
tary age are all called to the colors.
think there is no question that at the
tend Of this war we may expect an i'm
migration from whom New Mexico
may pick those who will help to make
the state great. In the meantime it
behooves employers to think Of their
future needs, put themselves in touch
with our service, and let us know
what to expect. Rest assured that the
immigrants that will come to US as
full-fledged colonizers will be few and
far between. V.F. PARTCH.