The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-14
IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE.
Conference to Consider Placing Immi-
grants on Southern Farms.

I giants Oh 1ohthNhh
Washington, D. c., Nov l4.-Senator
Duncan L. Fletcher of Florida, president
of the southern commercial congress, is
sued a call to-day for state and local Of
ticials, representatives of the press, com
mercial and civic organizations, railroad
officials, bankers, and real estate and
business men of the south to meet in
to consider and devise methods of inter-
esting and locating agricultural immi-
grants in the southern states. The call
is issued by the southern commercial
congress, with the approval OF Secretary
Wilson of the department OF labor, at
the instance of leading business men
throughout the south to discuss the ad-
Visibility of undertaking efforts for
placing the agriculturally inclined inn
migrants now out of employment in our
industrial communities on southern
farms, and to plan methods OF caring for
the horde of foreigners, that will prob
ably come to this country at the close OF
the European conflict
Secretary Wilson will deliver the
opening address at the conference. The
southern commercial congress will have
the cooperation OF the department of
labor in this work, and Mr. /. V. Pow
DERBY. chief of the division of informa-
ton of the bureau of immigration, has
been designated to actively assist in ar
ranging for tho meeting.
The conference is called, it Is stated, |
to determine southern immigration
policy, and to work out a practical plan
by which the south can take advantage !
OF existing opportunities. There are |
thousands of immigrant families in our
industrial communities, either out OF |
work or on short time that have been
working and saving for years in order
to be able TO return to Europe and pur-
chase agricultural homes, who are pre-
vented from leaving this country, Many
Of these people no longer desire to re-
turn abroad in view OF the economic
burden which the war has placed on the
of Europe, and large groups
AN be placed on Southern farms if the
proper efforts are made to secure them.
Large numbers of European immi-
grants, many OF whom viii be practical
v destitute, will come to the United
states at the close OF hostilities in
Europe and must be cared for.
The Instability OF attempting TO util-
re this class OF people on the farm lands
II the south will also be considered.
Preparations are being made to have
representatives. of the foreign press in
his country, and officials of the more
Important OF the immigrant societies 10
ttend the conference. In addition 20
'ecretary Wilson, other high officials of !
he federal government viii also be in /
Tendance.
The fact that the south possesses
eculiar opportunities and advantages in
his instance is fully realized by the Of {
Gals OF the southern commercial con )
ress and they will see that the confer ,
nee directs its attention TO dcvising a
ystem OF financing agricultural settle 5
i.nts IN the southern states and 90 the I
ask Of establishing an immigration I
ervice capable OF properly handling and {
Erecting this important work. j
large attendance Is expected for the '
lbiect Of immigration is nov provok. !
Y considerable attention throughout v
,untry, and j. commanding serious con a
Iteration on the part Of the govern I
ient II is already being urged that a
ostoffice officials. and the county agents p
the department Of agriculture co ?
perate with the federal immigration S
Hcials and state officials in efecting a v
roper distribution Of immigrants TO the
yricultural regions =