San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
MUST
SEEK HOMES
/. IN AMERICA
immigration Is a Matter Of
Life and Death to
Thousands There.
SUPPORT IS LACKING
Italy Produces Little and
Her Citizens Must Seek
Living Abroad.

her Citizens Must Seek
Living Abroad.
By HIRAM KELLY MODERwELL.
Rome, April 19.-ThouSh nominal
ly technical in character the inter-
national congress on emigration which
Is to be held in Rome on May 15 will
face one of the most difficult and
profound problems in the world to-
day. The American delegates to the
eongress-Edward j. Henning, assist
ant secretary of labor; William w.
Husband, ommissioner-gene of i'm
migration; DR.. Cumming, surgeon
general of the United States Public
Health Service, and Homer Byington,
american consul-general in Italy
will have to deal with. question that
has become, especially for Italy, a po-
Etical question of first magnitude.
To Americans the desire of Ital-
ians to emigrate to the United States
may seem mere matter of cupidity,
q lust for easy money. To Italians
1t is matter of life and death. Italy
is virtually an island surrounded by
sea and mountain and vastly over
populated. The overworked soil can
The rest of the population must live
by industrial labor. But Italy, a
county almost entirely without raw
materials. is at constant disadvant-
age in industrial competition with 9TH
er countries. The surplus of its popu-
!ation. which increases at the rate of
6.OO0.OOO every ten years, must leave
the country.
Many Look Toward America.
II one took poll of the Italians
from Trent to Girgenti, probably half,
certainly a quarter, would say they
would like TO emigrate to the United
States on the 2ext boat. But the
United States has decided that it will
receive only limited number of i'm,
migrants. In the johnson bill it is
proposed that the number be linn
ted, for each foreign nation. to 2
per cent of the number resident in
he United States in 1890. The eff
Fect OF this would be to reduce the
yearly quota of Italian immigrants
rom $4,000 to about 10000.
Probably most Americans do not
know whether the Johnosn bill re-
fers to immigration, to whiskey or
o oil. But every Italian knows what
t Is about, and to him it means
tragedy.
It means tragedy for several rea-
|ons. First. it appears to be a TER
ible slap at Italian pride. 1t seems
o be a deliberate attempt on the
part Of the United States to keep out
Italians as undesirables. The Ital-
ans are sensitive. They do not like
o be regarded as an inferior race.
When they discuss the matter they
re always courteous but they sug-
est that Julius Caesar. Saint Fran
is, Michelangelo. Palestrina, Column
us. Cavour and Marconi did not
pring from an inferior race. Italy is
istinctly increasing her prestige in
Europe and in the world. And she is
erhaps more than usually resentful
list now of limitations from Amer
"a that her people are Of base
reed.
compelling Reasons for Emigration.
To Italy, emigration means more
nan a matter of prestige, more than
mere evacuation Of surplus popu-
ltion. To Italy, emigration is an
hdustry. The country, which cannot
pssibly produce as much as IL con-
imes. must import from abroad about
ZOO. 100000 lire worth morcsthan it
lports. 1.-THE par value of the lire
1913 cents; its exchange value about
ID cents.) How does it pay for
ese surplus IMPORTS? Partly through
e tourist traffic, whereby. in the
nguage of the economies professors,
effects an invisible export" of Ra-
pael and Leonardo da Vinci to the
tent of several hundred thousand
liars a year.
Chiefly. however. Italy balances its
ternational commercial account by
mittances f.om its emigrants
road. Remittnnces from the United
ates to Italy through the Bank of
Rples alone in 1919 were 432 .692.-
q lire; in 1920. S7S.349,654 lire: in
81. 621 .973. $50 lire: in 1922. 451,-
BIAS lire. and in 1923. on the ba-
of the first three months, about
q. 1000, 900 lire.
These figures represent certainly
IS than half the total. In addition
them should be considered the !
pney brought back to Italy BY the
burned emigrants. who now number
per cent Of those who leave. The
me-comer. with money in his pocket,
kngs capital to invest in the mother
IIntry. 1t is common to see,
'oughout the villages of the south,
zones. one the original grav time
m settlement. the other thriving
rooted district Of new homes. fit
with electricity and sanitary i'm
bvements. which proclaim from afar
history of their owners. the repat-
ted emigrants.
More Than Vanity Involved.
I is evident. then. why in every
Imereial treaty the present Italian
Fernment makes with another conn
there is clause providing for
emigration of certain number of
lians TO that country. The govern
ut has IN worry about this prob
every day of the year. IL emil
ton ceased the problem ot daily
adj would become one Of tragic
misty.
'hus. when Italy makes an official
test to Washington concerning the
Uses of the johnson bill. II is not
,ere matter of wopeded vanity. II
an acute matter of bread and
ter.
All Fixed
~ Aav-I