The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-02-13

busy themselves without delay in the
solution of this problem.
In 1904 when governor of this
state, l induced the legislature to es-
tablish a bureau of immigration. My
object in doing so at that time was
two fold, first, to bring under cul-
tiyation the vacant lands of South
Carolina, and secondly, to give us in
this State a majority of white people.
Unfortunately, large element of our
citizenship at that timewas opposed to
immigration into South Carolina and
the result was that after my terms
as governor expired what consid-
cred the most important feature OF
this bureau was abolished by the gen.
eral assembly. l am as convinced to-
day as 1 was at that time that this
proposal is the only true solution of
our difficulty with respect to the ne
gro problem. This problem, is more
acute in South Carolina and in Mis-
sissippi than in any of the Southern
States, due to the fact that in these
States the two races exist in practic-
ally equal numbers. The fear Of ne
gro domination hangs over these two
States like pail, and hinders US
from progress in every direction.
Were this removed by white immigra
tion our people would be in far bet
ter position to approach this question
than they are today.
Our people, as rule, are willing
to accord the negro full justice and
to give him ample opportunities to
better his economic condition, in fact
one difficulty with the advancement
of our State today is that our negro
laborers are not rising to their oppor-
tunities, but we are determined, Of
course, to keep governmental control
of our State in the hands Of the white
man. We have had experiences along
this line which make our people all
the more firm in this determination,
the vacant lands of South Carolina,
and will always be remembered by
our people, and every measure will
be taken by them to prevent their re-
currence. The only safe and salts
factory way by which the people Of
South Carolina can continue in the
course upon which they are determin-
ed, is to take such steps as will bring
about a decided white majority in
the State, and in this work, it Is my
belief that we should be assisted by
the national government. Uncle Sam
has shown us what miracle work
er he is when he tackles any prob
lem. Nothing seems too great or too
difficult for him to undertake and
carry out successfully. On account of
the world war the government of the
United States has been compelled,
and properly so to depart from its
policy of splendid isolation as to
world affairs and is today undertak-
ing the solution of questions which
affect the territory and the govern
ment of various European. Asiatic
and African peoples. Under these
conditions, should not our govern
ment materially aid us in any reas-
enable steps which We may take in
the solution of this problem? And
the only step which see practical at
this time is to induce desirable white
immigration into the South, and es-
pecially into those parts of the South
where the negro problem is the most
acute. Hitherto, immigration in this
country has moved along lines OF
latitude. This has been largely on
account of the policy of our govern
ment in opening up lands in the west.
An emergency has now arisen which
demands that immigration should be
directed along the lines Of lonHitude
and if the same steps are taken by
the government, in my opinion, 1t VIII
be an easy matter on account OF our
advantages of soil and climate to
induce immigrants to settle in the
South. This can be greatly aided by
the people Of our State if they will
cease all opposition to immigration
and if our law makers will devise
plans, especially in regard to taxa
ton, which will make it to the inter
est of peope who desire homes to
come to the South.
1t is up to the people Of South
Carolina to solve this question in the
way they hope for it to be solved.
If they will take the initiative and en-
list the cooperation of the federal
government in such an undertaking
as I propose, 1 am satisfied that they
will bring about a solution which will
be entirely satisfactory to our people
which will give justice to the negro
and will at the same time meet the
approval of the enlightened opinion