The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-11-24
PROBLEMS OF IMMIGRATION.
Ex-President Rothweu of Boston Cham
Der of Commerce Brings Out Fact
often Overlooked.

introducing his subject of Immigra
ton. former President Rothwell, in
recent address delivered before the
Boston Chamber of Commerce, urged 4
also the Importance of a wise program
Of preparedness, declaring that the /
people Of the nation are practically 2
unit on this question. He discussed
the problem Of national solidarity, ana
the relation of immigration TO this
problem.
''In the year 1918, " said Mr., Roth
well, ''there was a peaceful invasion
| of the United States to the number, in
round figures, of 1900, 900 - 1920 I
regiments of 1000 each. And among
these there marched regiments to
the number of 2l9 from the various
Balkan countries - now at each 9TH /
err S threats; also 45 Russian regiments, |
900 Italian, 46 Greek, 80 German, 1913 |
Polish, 1870 Hebrew, each regiment l.,
600 strong; and these formed but a
part of that conglOmerate army.
| ''Thev went into permanent camp
mainly east of the Great Lakes. The
latest census showed that 90 per cent
of the foreign-born population were III
the North Atlantic States-New Eng
land, New York, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.
"Expert opinion differs as to the
volume of the immigrant invasion that
will follow the close of the war, but, in
general, it is believed that there will
be a renewal upon a very large scale of
that type of immigration which is most
difficult to assimilate -
Discussing conditions in Nassachu-
sets, where one-third Of the population
is foreign-born and another third
native-born of foreign parentage, Mr..
Rothwen said:
''With a large per cent of our popu-
lation unable to speak or understand
our current language, we have seen the
effects of misrepresentation by aei-
tators in time of industrial strife-such
as that of Lawrence, Clinton, Ipswich
Watertown, and elsewhere, when this
: Misrepresentation affected only materi-
al things such as wages, hours of labor,
, property. Who can measure the con
g sequences Of such misrepresentation
should the nation be engaged in a
Ilife-and-death struggle, when such mis-
representation of the motives Of those
Y upon whom would fall the burden of
defence might affect not merely the
? fortunes but the very lives of those
I'VE hold most dear?''
: To eountefact the influence of the
) exploiters and others who prey upon
|. the credulity and ignorance of the inn
: migrant, Mr.. Rothwell suggested a
broad policy of Americanization.
First, we must seek on even terms,
man to man, the acquaintance and
friendship of trustworthy foreign
speaking men and women whose ideals
! are as high, whose motives are as pure
and as altruistie as our own-men and
) women who justly enjoy the confidence
i and respect Of the people of their own
! race. We must offer and invite CO.
. operation in the various activities Of
/ life, business and social. Means must
+ be devised to impress upon our foreign
; born English-spea king fellow citi-
1 zens the desire and the determination
/ of those descendants of the older i'm
n migration that these newcomers shall
c have absolutely fair play in every re-
llation Of life; that their exploitation
|shall be stamped out; that the doors
of opportunity shall be thrown open to
h them on even terms; that the prizes of
: capacity and of merit are within their
e Igrasp.
e 'This is a problem which calls for
e the active assistance of every business
$ man, not only on the high ground of
patriotic duty, but even on the low