Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-11-17
SO d. ! i {. | | ]. R !.
Want n | SETTLERS
Conference Planned to Discuss
immigration Project to Take
Foreigners South. '.',.

.
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Dun
can U. Fletcher of Florida. president
of the Southern Commercial Congress.
issued call today for state and local
officials, representatives Of the press,
commercial and civic organizations,
railroad officials, bankers, and real
estate and business men of the South
to meet in Washington on Saturday
December 18th, to consider and devise
methods of interesting and locating
agricultural immigrants in the South.
ern states. The call is issued by the
Southern Commercial Congress, with
the approval of Secretary Wilson OF
the Department Of Labor. at the in
stance of leading business men
throughout the South. to discuss the
adyisability of undertaking efforts for
placing the agriculturally inclined
immigrants now out of employment
in our industrial communities on
southern farms, and to plan methods
Of caring for the horde Of foreigners
that will probably come to this coun.
try at the close Of the European con-
flict. b sH'.l =
Secretary Wilson will deliver the
opening address at the conference.
| The Southern Commercial Congress
will have the cooperation OF the De
paltment OF Labor in this work, and
T. v. Powderly. chief Of the division
of information of the bureau OF inn
migration, has been designated to ac-
lively assist in arranging for the
meeting. "t .
Determine a Policy. ~ :
! The conference is called, it is
stated, to determine q southern im'
migration policy, and to work out q
practical plan by which the, South
can take advantage Of existing OF:
portunities. There are thousands OF
Immigrant families in our industrial
communities, either out Of work or
on short time, that have been Work
ing and saving for Years IN order to
be able to return to Europe and pur'
chase agricultural homes who are now
prevented from leaving this country.
Many of these people no longer de-
sire to return abroad in view of the
economic burden which the war has
placed on the countries of Europe,
and large groups can ,be placed on
southern farms if the proper efforts
are made to secure them. r
Large number Of European :Emi:
grants many of whom will be prac.
ticalE destitute. will come to tho
United States at the close Of hOstili'
ties in Europe and must be cared for.
Tile advisability Of attempting to it'll
ize. this; class OF people on. the farm
| lands :of the South will also be. con.
I; sidered. ts,.% u, ,@& ~
Preparations are being made to
have Representatives of the. foreign
press of this country, and oEcials .ot
the more important of the immigran nj
societies ito attend the conference. IN
addition to Secretary Wilson. other
high officials of the federal govern
ment will also be in attendance.
The fact that the South Possesses
peculiar opportunities and advantage
in this instance is fully realized by
the officials of the Southern CONNER
cial Congress and they will see thai
the conference directs its; attention
to 3deyising system Of financing as
ricultural settlements in the South
ern, states and to the task Cf es:ab
Fishing an. immigration service cap
able OF properly handling and tirect
ling this important work.
! "a large attendance is expected fo'
the subject Of immigration is now
provoking considerable attention
throughout the country, and lis com
al Axax M