Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-31

but to the new world. They sought
new fields in which to find homes
just as the early barbarians did.
They sought a new land of Canaan.
The new immigration laws of
the United States checked the in
rush here. Until that statute was
passed the only check was the
capacity of the transatlantic
steamships. The flight has not
been stopped; it merely has been
checked. 1t is officially reported
that the Italian authorities have on
file some 100000 applications for
embarkation to the United States.
The Italian quota for the year has
been exhausted. These applications
are awaiting the beginning Of a new
year. 1t is a waiting list.
In earlier times, before the pass
port laws became possible of en-.
forcement and when all people
were more warlike than they are
now, these 100000 would all be
armed and would come, whether
anyone said they could or not.
Another opposite case of migra-
ton under economic pressure is
that of the African slaves following
the American Civil war. The
slaves were under what amounted
to a military enslavement compar-
able to the slavery imposed by
such conouerors as Alexander the
Great and other early princes or
the peoples they defeated. When
the issue of war made good the
emancipation proclamation of Pres
ident Loncoln, the restraint was re-
moved and a substantial migration
of negroes back to Africa resulted
The republic of Liberia on the
west coast of Africa was founded
by this migration. Occasionally a
small follow-up migration of these
same people takes place. Every
few years a group OF American
negroes will join together, charter
a ship and effect a wholesale re-
moval to Liberia.
Strong representations have been
made to President Harding and
members of congress to admit the
Armenians of whom approximately
376,O 900 were evacuated from Srnyr.
ma by the Turkish conquerors on
short notice. Armenians who own
ed much property were divesteo
overnight of their possessions ano
ordered to get out. The president
recently was told of a case Of q
Smyrna merchant conservativeiy
estimated to be worth $20,0oo,00
who within a few days of the evac-
uation was dressed in rags, beg,
ging his bread in the streets.
The observations of Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon on the I'M
migration problem have a distinct
bearing on the decision as te
whether or not these Armenians
shall be admitted. The secretary
has said that the country needs
workers and that more foreigners
should be admitted to fill the ranks
of unskilled labor. He objects
however, to the admission Of trad.
ers. Dealers and traders, he says
are not producers. They do MOI
make anything but merely deal II
goods others have made. Mr.. Mel
lon said this distinction applied
particularly to the southern Euro
peans and those of the Near East
His remarks were not aimed a
the Armenians but it is a familiar
fact that the Armenians are alrnos'
entirely traders rather than pro
ducers and have been from The
earliest times. 1t is the view Of
such students of affairs as Mr.. Mel
lon that a numerous migration OF
Arnenians would resemble in some
ways the earlier m%igrations which
resulted in conquests of the coun
tries visited. They would, by en-
tering trade, climb to the unpopular
position of middleman which is al
ready considered overcrowded
Commercially they might effect al
important conquest.
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