The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-26
NOT A WISE PROPOSAL

While at first thought the proposition to make Mobile port,of entry for immigrants may appear to be a plan to develop the ports patronage and opportunity. 6 more sober second thought convinces that the plan, under present immigration laws, would be deleterious and not beneficial to Alabama. There is sympathy with the view of those who would like to see the vast agricultural acres of Alabama peopled and made produc- tive; but it is not believed that making Mo- bile an immigrant port would contribute to that worthy end. The agricultural sections of Alabama comprise the states most per manent and valuable resource, and their proper development would contribute immeas- urably to Alabama's prosperity. But there is no substantial reason to believe that there is any fundamental connection between that object and immigration. Indeed, it is more likely that, under our present immigration laws, all who would come through the port of Mobile would make for the cities. This is A bama city wishes to assume.
 As has been previously observed, the im- migration quotas are at present based on numbers and not quality. There is nation wide disapproval of such a situation, and a definite demand that the immigration be se- lective or else be stopped forthwith. Let the port of New York continue to absorb the poison alone, until the condition is remedied at its source. As q correspondent to The Age-Herald recently pointed out, there is a source whence the South may derive val uable farming population. That is from those portions of the North and West where cli- mate, high land values, high freight rates and other obstacles have made it difficult for tenants to become owners, or for owners to continue their economic struggle. To these farmers the appeal may well be made to come South.
 For this campaign, however, something more than mere advertising must be done There will be need of 1ong-term credits for the purchase of land, and the formulation of such other inducements as will be reasonable insurance of success for the newcomers The agricultural problems of the South and it's farming methods are in many important ways different from those of the North and West. Counties seeking new farmers, there fore, would need to see to it that the state and federal extension service be well within their limits, and that demonstration farms, periodic opportunities for instruction in time ly problems, and other aids be provided. Some plan for the extension of reasonable credits would also beeof value. for newcomer could hardly be expected to invest his hard-earned savings in a community in the operations of which the local financial institutions had no confidence. Yet such is the apparent situation in some counties.
 Our melting-pot cannot fuse master metal if the dross is in too great proportion. To import a part of an old-worId community is to import an old-world problem, and mental slant that does not comport well with our cherished institutions and national purposes. The well-intentioned of any nation are de- sirable; but what assurance is there now that such will come? The indication is all the other way. It is believed that if the scheme were left to a vote of the people of Ala bama, they would return prompt and al- most unanimous negative.