The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-06-10

enhance into our country, for they re-
fuse to blend with US, and We want no
Immigrant, desirable or undesirable,
unless he will become part of our peo-
pie and country. They bring their
secret societies for example, "The
Mafia," "The Black Hand" etc.-by
which many of our citizens are murder
ed. They make labor competition i'm
possible for the American workman on
account OF their frugal manner OF living;
and last of all they will not assimilate
with our people. AS soon as they ae-
cumulate wealth they return to their
native lands, leaving US in a poorer con-
dition than we were before they came.
Then we must try to keep out the
feeble minded, criminals; paupers, per-
sons afflicted with contagious or heredi-
tary diseases, and others. But how to
accomplish this is the problem that is
now puzzling our nation. We have
suggested laws amended laws, and made
new laws, and as yet we are unable to
handle this gigantic question.
The Northern States, since they have
been filled with so many undesirables.
have suggested that we have board Of
distribution OF immigrants, but the
South does not favor this proposition.
for it is unwilling to take any of these
undesirables on it's hands.
Our laws have never been properly
enforced, and even if they should be it
would be impossible to eliminate all the
undesirables; for, how are we able to
trace back into every immigrants family
to see whether or not there existed in
sanity, or hereditary or contagious dis
eases; how are we able to identify every
criminal and pauper, and so On in all the
rest of the cases?
The immigration Bill with the literacy
test, which three times has passed both
houses of Congress and has been vetoed
by Presidents Cleveland, Taft and VIII
son, provides that every immigrant must
have certain amount of education be-
fore he can be entitled to immigrate into
this country. But this is hardly u fair
test, for many desirable Immigrants,
who have not had the advantages Of an
education, would be barred from en-
trance along with the undesirables, and
many OF these poor ignorant people look
on coming to America as their greatest
happiness and see in it home in which
their children may obtain an education
and freedom.
The present European War will no
doubt cause the immigration question to
take on a more serious aspect. Since
the belligerent powers are expanding
millions daily, at the close of the war
they will be forced to tax their inhabi-
tants very heavily in order to regain
part of this dead expense, and thus will
cause thousands of people worn out and
wearied by the war to come to America
rather than return to their torn up and
desolated homes and pay these burden
some war taxes for years to come. Then
the immigrants who have been returning
each year earring their savings will pre-
fer to remain in this country in place Of
going back to their devastated native
countries. Probably this war will send
us many OF the Northern farmers, who
are skilled in their occupation, and we
should begin to prepare for receiving
these and the general influx Of ilnmi-
grants, which will more than likely be
rather large.
We have now dwelt at some length on
whom we want, and the next thing to
consider is how to get them. In order
to tell the world of the South's advan-
tages and bring immigrants here we
must first establish at some port, pre-
ferably New Orleans, leading immi-
grafton station for receiving foreigners.
Send out all kinds of advertising matter.
advertise in the principal papers, send
demonstration trains, lecturers, etc.,
throughout the North and West; Of
which part is now being carried on.
At present the South is making mill
lions of dollars and it is evident that
this amount would be vastly increased
If every square foot of it's fertile soil
were put under cultivation, If more fruit
and truck crops we're planted, more live
stock raised, its best industries and all
other resources more fully developed.
So let US strive more earnestly and
with greater vigor than ever before
to induce the desirable immigrants to
settle here and develop the South's
natural resources, to inspire the South
ern farmers to become more industrious,
to rid our boys of the inclination to de-
sert the farms for city life; and, when
we have accomplished all these tasks,
and when the South has become
thoroughly and uniformly populated
with the most desirable citizens, and
these citizens have been blended and
welded with us into a strong and per-
) feet union, then our Southland will adj
vance into a great and glorious country
OF everlasting peace and prosperity.
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