The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-12
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.

the shortage of labor, the exceptional
prosperity and the high wages being
paid have failed to stimulate emigra-
ton from those countries which have
not placed an embargo upon it. Thus
runs an article by Frederic G. Howe,
Commissioner of immigration, in 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 stim-
ulated the flow from Scandinavia. Den
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 100000 "A year at the port
of New York. The first year of the
war it fell to 243,O00. The second
year it fell still further, to 10000.
The outgoing flood has more than
neutralized the incoming tide. The
net loss through this port to our pop
ulation during these, two years was
90 1893. There Is still some immi-
grafton from Italy, and n consider
able immigration from Greece, al
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.
056 Greeks entered at the port OF
New York. 10,355 Italians and 466S
Scandinavians. Should the war be eX-
tended over the entire Balkan penin-
sula, as now seems quite probable,
southern immigration will be 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-
pends upon too many influences. Un-
doubtedly 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 socialization of indus
try which has taken place will en-
able these states to regiment their
soldiers much as they have done dur
ing the war. This is not true of Rus
sia, Austria, Italy and the Balkans.
And from these countries 1t is safe to
assume a 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 devasta-
ton in these countries has been very
hnu ha
gates and permit their people to mi
CRATE, undoubtedly n very large, pos
sbly tremendous, immigration will
follow the ending of the war from
these countries.
How will the immigrants be
financed in view of their poverty7
Just as they have been financed in
the past, for so 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 gen.
eral prosperity of the workers this aid
will be freely granted at 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.
4. .t,
ut home, for most of those who come
to America would much prefer to stay
in their native countries If the condi-
tions of life were tolerable. All Of
these forces will be acting and react
ing on one another ut 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
stretches of feudal estates into small
holdings, to be sold on easy terms, this
too will tend to keep the people at
home.
1t 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, nn
individual homes like those of Franc
will be provided for the people. Ii
such n program as this should be car
ried out, and there Is reason for be-
lieying that 1t is under contemplation.
immigration to America might be per-
manently checked for many years to
come. And quite as important, hun
dreds of thousands Of foreign-born per
sons might leave the United States to
a acarIra q home In their own counc