The daily Alaskan., 1915-02-08
NOT A GOOD MODEL


 and radical, that island coni- nent is often held up before the people oi the United States as a model of wisdom and progressive ness. We are told, especially in hard times or when industrial troubles are prevalent here, that the Australians are much more lib eral aud much more successful in preventing hardships and discon- tent. It is said that tn the anti podes the government runs things so broadly and so vigorously that everyone is sure of work at fair wages and a comfortable living.
 If all this were true, or anywhere near true, Australia would draw many more immigrants and have much better success in keeping those 1t gets. The growth of the vast country which has fewer in habitants, after being colonized more than 100 years, than Ohio has today, is very slow. Australia is as large as the United states, not counting Alaska, It gains about half as fast as New York city in population. and almost as many persons emigrate from it as come in from the British Isles and other countries.
 That tells the whole story as to the effect of the governments nu- merous experiments upon the lot o' the working classes. They al ways make the bulk of the emigra- ton from European countries. They go where they have reason to be- neYe their chances of prosperity and happiness are Lest. They get their news of the condition and op- portuEities of wage-earners from men arf women of their own class who have tested newer lands. They have letters rom Australia, from Can4da, from the United States. ThIy talk with friends and rela- &Tes returning 10 their old homes from all of these countries.
 Having learned all they can of the conditions of labor and life beyond the seas, the workingmen of the United Kingdom and other countries do not go to Australia as a rule. When they do so there they are not likely to stay. Canada is far more attractive to them. So is Argentina, except as to emi- grants from the British Isles who want to remain under the British flag. This country draws and hold many mora home-seekerB from Eu- rope than Australia Is able to at tract or Keep. ..
 In the latest census period of ten years the total gain in population was about 675,OOO, which was prac- tically the surplus Of births over deaths. The government paid the expenses of bringing tens of thou sands of immigrants from Europe, but the emigration offset the immi- grafton.
 The real test of all schemes of government and all nostrums for curing the ill of human life is the effect upon the contentment and happiness of the masses and heir share in the things which make living worth while. By that test Auslralia's experiments in radi- Caism of the most extreme type have failed, for 1t cannot draw many immigrants to a vast new continent, with only about three in habitants to every two square miles, or one to every 400 acres, and when it gets them they often refuse to remain -.-
 The cold records of Australia's lack Of rapid growth and its ex- Iraordinary emigration completel Kill all of the glowing pictures of antipodean bliss painted by its po- litical Quacks and men of their kind in this country and other dis tant parts of the world.
 Young Mr. Thaw's demand that Lt r,a,ta1 condition he inyeStt-