The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-11
MOVEMENT FOR
BELG|ANS HERE
STRIKES A SNAG
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
THEY WOULD BE BROUGHT TO
WEST FLORIDA VIOLATES THE
IMMIGRATION LAWS.

The movement to bring Belgians to
West Florida and settle them on the
vast tracts OF undeveloped lands has
struck an unexpected snag, according
to the following special from Washing
ton to the Jacksonville Metropolis:
An incipient movement looking to-
ward the immigration Of Belgian8 70
this country has run up against pro-
vision imbedded in the immigration
law which puts = strict curb. IL not
q quietus. on ali efforts to stimulate
such immigration
Senator Fletcher, OF Florida, was ap-
pealed to for his assistance In starting
q Belgian tide OF immigration to the
West Coast OF Florida in the region
around and TO the south Of Pensacola.
That section OF the country IS In need
OF desirable immigrants who viii prove
useful In clearing UP and developing
the farm lands, considerable areas OF
which have grown up in scrubby trees.
1t is section that can be made inn
mensely productive by a sufficient
supply of the right kind OF labor.
Fletcher Asked to Help.
Thinking that Senator Fletcher
would be able to assist in securing a
movement of Belgians to the Florida
locality asked him to take the matter
up. They had heard, they said, that
the British government may be willing
to transport INDECENT Belgians who
have lost everything by war, to the
United States free of charge
Senator Fletcher presented the mat
ter to the immigration authorities in
the Department OF Labor. The law
was investigated and it was found
that, under the plain and explicit
wording of the statute, the immigrtl-
ton authorities could not admit Bel
gians or airy other aliens who might
be transported by the British govern
ment. Furthermore IL was found that
Belgians who are solicited to come TO
this country by promises CT work can
not be admitted but must be deported |
to the country whence they came.
Throughout the United States are
humane and sympathetic |
organizations which, Mortified BY the |
starving and destitute condition Of tire |
are bombarding the imnli /
grafton bureau TO do its utmost to
assist them to come to this country.
But the bureau finds itself up against
IT. because of the provisions of law
referred to.
The Law.
The law enumerates among the
classes Of aliens that shall be excluded
rom the United States the following:
Persons, hereinafter called contract
aborers, who have been induced or So
icited to migrate to this country by
,ffers or promises of employment or in
of agreements. oral, writ
en or printed, expressed or implied.
% perform labor in this country of any
Kind, skilled or unskilled; any person
whose ticket or passage is paid for
With the money OF another, or who is
assisted by others to come, unless IL |
s aff1rmatively and satisfactorily !
shown that such person does not be-
ong to any of the foregoing excluded
classes, and that said ticket or pas
sage was not paid for by any corpora
ion, association, society, municipality
,r foreign government, either directly
,r Indirectly"
Would Make Good Citizens.
Aside from sympathy felt for the
3elgians, which is widespread and i
general throughout the United States,
md which prompts philantropic or
plantations to take an interest in Bel
sian immigration, there also is a gen
sral feeling that the Belgians would
make very desirable additions to the /
OF the farming districts
Ind by their frugality and industry
would help to make waste places bios
som as the rose.
Consequently It is not improbable
hat efforts viii be made at the COM
ng session of congress to so amend
he immigration laws as to permit any
foreign government to transport them
% the United States free OF charge,
md also permitting corporations and
in the United States TO
pay the passage of such immigrants
who come here to locate pc manently