The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-10-13
European Fight Has Put Stop to
Flow of Big Human Tide to
This Country.
BEST TYPES CANNOT COME
Germany. France and England viii
Not Let Their People Leave When
Peace Prevails, an Official
Predicts


prosperity and the high wages being
paid have failed to stimulate emigra-
tlon from those countries which have
not placed an embargo upon it Thus
runs an article by Frederic G. Howe,
Commissioner of Immigration, In u re-
cent issue of the World Under the
circumstances we would expect the
vacuum created by the closing OF the
doors of Germany, England, France,
Russia, Austria Hungary, Poland and
Italy against emigration to have slim
ulated the flow from Scandinavia. Dem
mark, Holland. Spain and Portugal,
whose gates are still open to the out
going flood. This has not occurred.
FOR the four years prior to the war
immigration averaged in the neigh
borhood of gOO.OOO n year ut the port
or New York. The first year of the
war it fell to 243,OoO. The second
year 1t fell still further. to 10000.
The outgoing Hood has more than
neutralized the incoming tide. The
net loss through this port to our pop
ulation during these two years was
~ o3. There Is still some inIni.
grafton from Italy. and consider
able immigration from Greece, Ill
though the immigrants from these
countries are largely men over the
military age and wives and children
coming to this country to join hus-
bands or parents. During the three
months, May, June and July, 1916, s.
O56 Greeks entered at the port of
New York, 1885 Italians and AGES
Scandinnvians. Should the war be ex-
tended over the entire Balkan Denim
sula, as now seems quite probable,
southern immigration Will he reduced
to Italy and Spain.
Pure Conjecture After Close Of War.
AS to what will happen after the
war, that is pure conjecture. 1t de-
ponds upon too many influences. In
doubleday Germany, France and Eng
land, the most highly organized of the
military countries, will keep their peo-
pie ut home. Wages are likely to be
high, and the specialization of indus
try which has taken place will en-
aDie these states to regiment their
soldiers much as they have done dur
ing the war. This is not true of Rus
Sin. Austria. Italy and the Balkans.
And from these countries it is safe to
assume u large immigration will come.
These countries have suffered most.
They are less highly organized than
the other powers. The burden of tax
alton will be heavy. while the devastu-
ton In these countries has been very
much greater. Should they lift the
gates and permit their people to mi
crate. undoubtedly very lurge. pos
sibly a tremendous. immigration will
follow the ending Of the war from
these countries.
How will the immigrants be
financed in view of their poverty 7
Just us they have been financed in
the past. for 80 per cent of those who
come to America receive aid and as
sistance from friends and relatives al-
ready here. 1t is American money
sent to Italy, Austria, Russia and Po-
land that stimulates emigration to
this country; and In view of the gem
eral prosperity of the workers this aid
will be freely granted ut the close OF
the war.
immigration Is pretty accurate
mirror of industrial conditions. When
this country is prosperous, when
wages are high, immigration rises.
When hard times intervene and men
are out of employment, immigration
falls.
Will Need Labor Abroad.
The same rule applies to Europe.
When conditions are good men remain
at home, for most Of those who come
to America would much prefer to stay
in their native countries If the condi-
lions of life were tOlerable. All of
these forces will be acting and react
ing on one another at the close of the
war.
If the European countries set them
selves to rehabilitate the wastage of
the war, to rebuild their roads and re-
man their factories in order to re-
capture their trade, there may be a
great demand for labor If they
should work out an agricultural pro-
gram for cutting up the great
of feudal estates into small
holdings, to be sold on easy terms, this
too will tend to keep the people At
home.
It is likely that an agricultural revc
luton will follow the war and thai
the old feudal system which still pre-
walls almost all over Europe to tn,
east of Berlin will be broken up, an
individual homes like those of France
will be provided for the people. Ii
such program as this should be car
ried out, and there Is reason for be-
Iieving that it is under contemplation.
to America might be per-
checked for many years to
come. And quite as important. hun
lreds of thousands Of foreign-born per-
sons might leave the United States to
acquire a home in their own coun.
Try.