Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-06-22
BORN Will GO
HOME WHEN WAR is OVER

HOME WHEN WAR Is 0vER
Instead OF receiving an u~nprecedent-
ed influx OF immigrants after the war
the United States Is likely to lose some
1000, 900 or 5000, 900 of foreigners, who
will return to their native lands. DIR.
G. Howe. commissioner of inn
migration at Ellis island, who had con-
fidently expected that an unusual wave
of foreigners you'd sweep into Amer
lea, has been compelled by recent
events to alter his views and to admit
to come IS prob1ematical. g.
migrants a Year. or almost 100, 900 a
month. were coming through Ellis
island said DIR. Howe. That was
about 80 per cent of the total immigra-
ton into the United States. The war
checked this inflow automatically INC
almost completely. The European
struggle, in other words, stopped the
contribution to the United States OF
something like $500, 600, 900 to 81, O00,-
10000 a year to the country's wealth,
assuming each immigrant to be worth.
$1,000.
For the two years terminating with
June 30, 1916, the ebb and flow of the
tide of immigration nj emigration was
practically balanced, u condition that
had not been experienced in more than
half Il century,"
Literacy Test Checks Flow.
The l~iteracy test will at first, in the
keep down immigration after the war
even in the cases Of such countries as
may not impose AN embargo on emigra-
ton. On this score he said Seventy
per cent of the immigration in recent
years has been from south and central
~ s.ov n1~..:~ 80
high rate of illiteracy. OF the men at
military illiteracy rises to &c per
cent in Austria, 81 in Greece, Al in
Hungary, As in Italy, SO in Poland and
10 in Russia. And it is from these coun-
tries that America has been drawing
heavily.
1t must he considered. among other
things, that in European countries emf
grafton may he prohibited after tho
war. In fact, such q situation is likely
ma to be expected. This will probably
De trus OF Germany, France, England.
italy and central Europe. Shortage OF
labor abroad will keep them at home.
especially in we'll organized countries.
The revolution in Russia mi Poland
may create conditions there that will
Keep the natives home.
Expects Few Germans.
The countries at war will need. after
the conflict. all their able bodied men.
An emigration embargo can be enforced
by refusing passports. by legislation az
to Inheritance, by %forbidding return.
etc. ! expect to see very few Germans
coming. The bulk of our German poDu-
lation came here between 1880 and 1870.
Next to the United States. Germany
has more immigrants han any other
country i'm the world. Previous to tho
war the average annual Immigration
to the German empire totaled about
700, 900.
Germany may be expected to keen
all her people at home in an effort to
recapture industry and trade. I ex.
pect she will send her men back to n.
dustry in companies and regiments tust
as they are sent to the firing line. In
that a in IA spirit almost military.
Germany will seek to carry herself
over the transition stage to the point
where individual initiative can adjust
itself again. Undoubtedly Germany
hi.er me wal viii be a much moro
highly specialized state n that fact
VIII tend to keep Germans at home.
Countries Will Hold Them.
1t may be that after the war tens
OF millions OF persons in Europe will
want to flee their countries because
OF nigh taxes. military rcstlessness,
the breaking up of families, the desire
to see friends in America, the disturb
ance OF agriculture and industry and
the general chaos. But we need not
expect them here. Their countries win
prevent their departure.
Shortage Of immigration in the
United States plus prosperity has
greatly increased wages here. We are
experiencing a labor famine, u farm
workers famine. a servant girl famine.
wages have increased more rapidly
IMAM In any other period in history.
unskilled labor has gone up so per
cent INC is likely to attain ever higher
wages.
In my opinion this labor shortage
VIII continue for a considerable time.
prosperity IS so widespread that it has
begun TO affect industries not immed-
iate!y touched by the war. Industries
producing comforts and Injuries are de-
faandlng more workers. Wages will
continue TO rise. Almost anybody can
get a job today II he is able to work.
we may expect that Immediately
AFTER the war there will be a tremend-
Gus outflow Of foreigners from America.
a million persons, yes. 1000. 900 or
5000 ooo, will leave for several reasons.
Flrst. they will wish TO see old friends.
Second, they all desire to see their ma.
tive lands. Third. they will go abroad
To acquire property left them. Fourth.
and o important. the Poles may
nave a free Poland to return to ana
many H~llngarians. Poles and Russians
VIII go back to buy land and settle
down Mt home. l find that the expec-
tation is general among natives of
southern Europe that land will be very
cheap. They have made a lot of o
here i'm the last three years and have
enough to go back and buy land ana
they are going to do IT,"
Thu Day ls Growing Longer.
Edwin Tenney Brewster. in the St.
Nicholas.