The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-07
WORAntA Soon RETURN
/ TO THEIR HOME lAhDS

Washington. March 6.--Thousands of
tho most highly skilled technical artI-
sans and workmen who came to Amer
lea from European districts where new
governments are soon to be set up,
will return to the land of their birth
AZ rapidly as shipping facilities will
permit, according to facts gathered
by diplomatic agencies concerned with
.sSa73y,Sses ssS.1ssfa over thy IL.
pending cxodus felt. by employers In
the larger Industries, but government
officials who will direct the forthcom
ing victory loan fear the success OF
the campaign Is seriously endangered
In the four liberty loans. alien resi-
dents in the United States bought mill
lions Of bonds. paying for them on the
instailment plan.
According to reports reaching the
treasury department. thousands Of the
foreign workmen engaged upon the
heavy tasks which are Fundamental In
industry. are insisting that they be
paid In full each week, that they are
selling their liberty bonds at discount
and arc accommodating in every man
ner possible sufficient funds to nav
their way to the countries OF central
Europe.
Students Of social conditions point
out that when these Immigrants came
to America they were led to believe
that the possession OF land would be
an easy matter. But they have found
that land IL high and In the recent
months have been hit by the high cost
OF living. Many OF them came to
America to escape army duty, but
were inducted into the army here
through the draft
Agitators. many said to be In the
employ Of agents for steamship COM
niAa -< ha
great distribution of land soon to take
place in Europe.
1t Is said that In some industrial
centers the foreign popula tfon lis OBJ
sessed with the belief that upon their
return to Poland, to Cyechc O. Slavia, TO
Hungary or the Balkans, they will at
once be a party In the division OF the
great landed estates of the mobiles. The
various diets Of the Younger EuroDes n
countries are considering plans for
the division of lands and the word has
spread through the United States that
central Europe is the land of promise
for the poor man.
SO keenly do treasury department Of
fcials feel the menace OF the move
ment for the return of thousands TO
Europe that they have secured the
agreement OF the state department to
A proposal by which delegations ot
citizens will be sent 10 the United
States from various European coun-
tries to tell Of the conditions in Eu-
rope and to advise the purchase Of
bonds In the victory loan,
After the foreign governments have
selected the delegations formal invt-
tattons win be extended to them 10
visit this country. They will he Gent
throughout the country to address
mass meetinrs In the larger centers
during the victory loan drive
Reports from various cities show
that already the agents Of stem. mir
comnanfes have booked thousands NJ
rassages. In this business thew have
accepted liberty bonds, It ss said and
have done a land office business. Bonus
and premium rates are freely offered
for early passage, and steamship men
predict that they will enjoy the hesvt-
est traffic in the history of transpor-
tation between the two continents