Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-07-03
Immigration FACTS
COMING rHRoNGs NOT ALWAYS
-, uApMoNY WITH OUR sYs-
TEN OF GOVERNMENT.
f,ock TO BIG COMMERCIAL CfNTERS
In MANY Gases They Increase social
ana. Industrial Evils-lmmisration
Laws Should Be Drawn Tighter
and Enforced to the Letter.

AVIS Should Be Drawn Il0hter
and Enforced to the Letter.
The population of the United states
has always comprised large lHihi'
Grant element and it may be assumed
that these foreigners Cat least until
tbev are thoroughly assimilated) are
not in harmony with our system OF
government and national Ideals ana
NAV have retarded the highest pohti-
cal development Of the nation. IN
considering the political results OF I'M
migration there are three prlnclpai
facts to be considered:
First, the larger portion are males
and therefore largely exercise the
right of franchise and that quickly
and after their education has peen
largely completed in foreign countries.
Second, in recent years the lmmi-
grants have tended to crowd into the
larger cities where they colonize and
vote for employment. This assem-
hing of immigrants into foreign quar-
ters of the cities is obviously bad; II
increases social and industrial evils.
Third, it is asserted that with the
immigrants come undesirables and an
archists and that, with the freedom OF
speech granted, they exert an undue
and harmful influence.
But. in fairness, it must be admitted
that the evils we now complain OF nnd
their root in economic conditions and
were we to shut off immigration, we
should have the same evils and prob
lens to contend with. Socialism and
anarchy, for example, are due to in
equality of wealth, shutting the doors
of opportunity to the poor, etc. II the
economic conditions here are sound
how can a socialist or anarchist, argu-
ing from his European experience, IN
fluence us? We have government
which assures equality of opportunity
and a fair degree of equity in the dis
tribution of wealth, though our expert
ence is demonstrating to the world
that equity in the distribution OF
wealth. uOeS uOL ACSOoooAAJ
from equal opportunity.
So, while immigration may intensity
existing evil conditions, it does not
cause them and we can not get rid OF
them by restricting immigration.
Social Results Of immigration.
It is often argued that crime, vice
and mortality are greater among the
lower classes than among the well-to-
do and that these are therefore In
Creased by immigration. Inasmuch as
there are no comprehensive statistics
on this point, it is safe argument to
make. But common sense indicates
that crime and vice are either heredit
airy or suggested by the social or econ
omic conditions that man finds him
self in. Statistics do not show more
crime and vice to be hereditary in for
eigners than in naturals; SO again the
conditions in our land are to be looked
after. Where food is cheap and SAM
tary regulations good, mortality Is moi
high and does not follow especially
among immigrants.
On the other hand, it is pretty well
established that pauperism and litter
acy do result largely from, or are IN
creased by, immigration.
But the most important social con
sideration is of course the extent tt
which the immigrants may be success
fully assimilated. Up to IS years ago
there is no doubt that the assimilatint
process worked we'll Except OF course
in the matter of oriental immigration)
three great forces of assimilation be
ing the public school, marriage ant
political suffrage. But during the las
few decades the tendency to colonizt
in foreign quarters in the large cities
is restricting assimilation.
No civilized nation of today would
undertake to entirely prohibit immi
grafton, or even to suspend all immi
grafton for any stated period, so thu
only practical policy is the restriction
and regulation Of immigration.
Our laws at the present time, In gen
eral, discriminate between pauper
and criminals on the one hand AM
the desirable classes on the other. W.
have commissioners Of immigration
whose duty 1t is to look after the I'm
migrants and inquire into their fnan
cial condition and character. The re
jected are returned to the ports from
which they embarked at the expens
of the ship owners.
Another restriction upon immigrs
ton into this country Is the contrac
labor law, which requires that an
person contracting his labor in tn
foreign country shall not be admitted
This law was passed at the instanc
Of the trade unions to prevent strikin
miners being supplanted by importe
laborers. It was also intended to pre-
vent the overcrowding Of the countr
with unskilled labor from Europe. OF
viously the tendency Of this restri'
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