The Washington herald., 1915-01-23
THE OPEN FORUM.
Writer Says the South Wants I'm
migration Restricted.

has passed both Houses of Congress
and is now up to the President, and
which he is expected to veto, there is
considerable to say from a sectional
point of view. The South taken as a
whole wants a restricted immigration
! The States below the old Mason and
Dixon line care nothing for the most
numerous class of immigrants the
present law allows to enter this
country.
There are exceptions to this IL is
true; the railroads and a few big
planters may welcome the low stand
ard laborers OF Europe, but 1t is only
from selfish motives. Such labor as
this will undermine even the cheap
labor OF the negro.
The true attitude of the South was
plainly set forth at Tampa in 1905
at the conference of the Commissioners
of Agriculture and immigration; by
resolutions of the legislatures of Vir-
ginia and Tennessee; also the fact that
North Carolina and South Carolina
have abolished their immigration bu
reaus and instructed their agricultural
boards not to seek immigrants.
And by far the greatest proof is in
the fact that the Farmers Agricultural
and Cooperative Union with q mem
bership of 100000 in the South and
West has demande again and again
the passing of the reading test clause.
Again, immigrants from Southeast
ern Europe and Asia have not the
same objections to Interbreeding with
the negroes that the Northern races
have; therefore a large influx OF these
immigrants after the war would but
tend to increase the complications of
the negro problem. Booker Washing
ton, the greatest exponent of the ne
gro race, IS bitterly against the bend
ing sucn people with the American
born negro.
The South is well within its rights
when IL says: we do not want these
immigrants" Its white birth rate al
ways has been high. What has hap
pened in the Ncrth? Race suicide is
prevalent and IL dates in that part Of
the country from the large immigra-
tion of 1S4O to 1850, increasing with
each succeeding wave of lower quality
immigration and affecting not only the
original settlers but the earlier I'M
migrants. At present in the South
the only socially inferior class is
definitely marked off by color.
The one serious result of immigra-
tion of Mediterranean stock to the
Southern States would be an increase
of negro half breed and the substi-
tuition of these races for the Anglo
Saxon and the French now bearing
the proud name OF Southerners.
The attitude OF the South all along
has been shown by their advocacy of
restricted immigration and the send
ing of both Senators and Representa-
tives to Congress on a platform pro-
tecting their homes from the invasion
of undesirable foreigners.
PRESCOTT F. HALL,
of the Executive Committee,
immigration Restriction League.
Praise for Oratorfa Society.
Editor of The Washington Herald:
the disinterested zeal of Mr..
Sydney Lloyd Wrightson, and at a severe
tax upon his time and energy. the Wash
ington public has had for several years
the privilege of hearing some of the
greatest oratorios rendered in a compe-
tent manner. Mr.. Wrightson receives alb
sOlutely no compensation for his work.
and the Washington Oratorio Society not
only receives no compensation whatever,
but pays both time and money for the
privilege OF giving Washington some
worthwhile music. while through the
financial inadequacy OF the society's re-
sources, the soloists receive such a pitiful
for their splendid work that
Il would shame the city to name the
Under all the circumstances en-
and encouragement without
any depreciative criticism is due Mr..
Wrightson and his society. II the public
Of the society could be en-
joyed only by the payment of a large
fee there might be some excuse
for the half-hearted praise, and even the
adverse criticism expressed in the daily
press of today. But these performances
are free, there being only a free-will
which does not begin to meet
the actual expenses involved. The public
spirit that animates the society and its
leader. as well as the generous co-Opera-
ton of DIR. Wood and the Church of the
Covenant in providing. free of charge. a
place for the rendition OF these master
pieces, merits only enthusiastic appreCia-
ton. Adverse critics who sacrifice JUS
lice and public spirit to their own inCom-
to appreciate a public benefit
nay be versed in musical lore and might
Justly find fault with any rendering by
any body OF singers OF any masterpiece;
out few critics. however, would devote |
% any public cause even small frac-
ion of the time, labor and zeal so freely |
by Mr.. Wrightson and his CO.
workers. On the other hand. the warm |
,st thanks of all public-spirited music |
overs are due and are ungrudgingly |
given alike to DR.. Wood and his church |
md to Mr.. Wrightson and his hard |
working society. ]. B. CLAYTON.