Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-05
Y. S. Labor Dept.
Official Speaks on
Immigrant Problem
Theodore G. RisIey Of illinois Gives
tnterestin0 and Instructive Dis
course Sunday Evening at the
Green Street Methodist Church


as his subject, 1.-The Problem of I'm
migration" and with his thorough
knowledge Of the subject gave the
people who were SO fortunate as to
hear him. a new insight into the i'm
migration question.
In introducing his subject, Mr.. Ris-
ley gave few figures to show the
scope of the question. He said that
there are 100000 foreign-born resi-
dents in the United States, and 3,000,-
900 who are children of foreign born
people. Over 100 languages and dia-
lects are spoken and there are 1851
newspapers printed in foreign Ian
guages. Before the war the American
news in these papers was very small,
but since that time the United States
news has increased until it is about
one-half Of the news in these papers.
The American people have given
little thought to the problem until the
last generation. Previous to 1920, no
immigrant census1 was taken, but
since 1t was established, 36,000.000 inn
migrants have come to this country,
this being 100000 more than the
time of the Civil War.
The increase of population from
the American stock has decreased in
almost the exact ratio that the i'm
migrants have increased. The birth
rate in New England among the for
eign born is almost equal to that of
the native born people and in some
of our cities it isas high as 70 per
cent. of the total birth-rate.
Until the last generation the i'm
migration was principally from the
Nordican races, but about 1856 it
shifted to the south and southeast
ern parts of Europe and many in re-
cent years have come here from Asia
Minor. This more recent immigration
is almost wholly of an economic char
acter and settles in our large cities,
finding employment in our industries.
Three fourth of all the labor in our
mines, steel mills, packing plants,
wooden and cotton mills and shoe fac
tories is of foreign origin.
Under our present immigration
laws a very great percentage of the
immigrants to this country are now
excluded because Of physical or legal
reasons that would be a menace to
the country. The immigrants now
have to pass a test which requires
them to answer satisfactorily between
80 and 40 questions.
Under the new quota law, only 10
per cent. of the nationals Of any
country included in the law, based on
our census of 1910, may be admitted
to this country. This law allows but
$4,000 to be admitted from such
countries. The countries of southern
Europe quickly fill this quota, but last
year the British Isles, the Scandana-
Wan and Germanic countries lacked
III 900 of filling their quota. Before
the war, they were coming here at
the rate of 100000 a year. From
1902 to 1912, 100000 of these people
found employment in our industries
and in the last generation they have
transformed the United States by this
labor from an agricultural to the
greatest industrial country of the
world.
1t is quite evident that shortage
| of labor will follow for a time in our
| industries, particularly in the classes
! Of labor which Americans are re-
| luctant to perform, on account of
recent restrictions.
Restrictive measures were espec-
tally deemed necessary as a result of
the World War which left millions
of idle impovished and broken wrecks
| Of war, who were eager to come to
the United States to better their
hopeless and forlorn condition, and
| for this reason it was deemed alb
solutely necessary for the protection
| of the then idle millions in this
| country and for economical, moral
and sanitary reasons to enact pro-
tective legislation against the
threatened influx Of millions of des-
titute and impotent victims Of the
| World War. We could not become
an asylum for the unfortunate and
helpless people of the devastated and
stricken countries of the Old World
| When immigrants are admitted to
this country, they should be received
with q friendly attitude and every
effort should he made to inculcate in
their minds a knowledge of the laws
and institutions of our country and
to Undue in their hearts love for
| the country Of their adoption. They
| should be made to realize that the
| fact of foreign birth shall not be a
handicap to them or hindrance to
| their children, and that if they obey
| the laws of the land and cndeavor to
| live UP to the obligations of good
citizens they will be given all the
privileges and protection that our
| native born are entitled to. We
should let them know that we realize
| that they come from countries which
| have given to the world their vast
stores of knowledge in science and
art and have enriched civilization
with the achievements of noble men
| and women.
1t is as much to our interests to
educate the immigrant in good citi-
zenship and to endeavor to overcome
his racial prejudices ethnic character
istics as it is his and this can only
| be accomplished by cordially indicat-
| ing to him all the opportunities for
education and for political and moral
| advancement.
We must teach him the history OF
our country and tell him the story
! of the American flag, so that he
may know of our achievements and
American ideals.