Speech #580070315

In 1880 the South mined 6.000.000 tons of coal. in 1903 she mined 70.000.000 tons. This internal development. rapid and stupendous as it is. is only an earnest of what we may reasonably expect in the future under proper conditions. We invite the northern and western farmer and the deserving European immigrant to share with us "this goodly heritage." We would have them link their arms in ours now at the dawn of a new era and participate fully in the benefits and glories of our development. In England. Ireland. and Scotland only one person in thirtyone owns land. and this is mortgaged for 60 per cent of its value. In. the populous rural sections of the North farm lands sell at fromI $100 to $150 per acre. We offer you lands at from $5 to $15 per acre. which. with a little attention. are just as productive and more desirable. owing to climatic advantages which adapt themi to a great variety of crops. While we are awake to the necessity4 of immigration as a means of keeping our farming interests com-. mensurate with our manufacturing interests. we confess some. solicitation. and we think the United States Government should feel some solicitation. as to the character of those immigrants. This Government should look well to the laws restricting immigration. and while no worthy person. sound physically and. mentally. should be turned back. we should see to it that this. country is not made an asylum or almshouse for the undesirable citizen of the Old World. We want only voluntary immigrants. not such as are induced by their own countries to seek new homes. It is true that the constant loss of ablebodied young men. for it is this class who usually emigrate. is a severe drain on the old coun-. tries. They have all the care and expense of rearing them to years. of maturity. which is estimated at $600 to $1.000 per individual. and receive absolutely nothing inreturn. Aside from this item ofl expense. however. emigration works but little detriment to the. old countries. for they are all densely populated. and in all. savei Ireland. the births are very much in excess of the deaths. While we should hold out open armsto the deserving immi-. grant who is not satisfied with conditions in his native land. it is our inherent right and but selfpreservation to exclude that turbulent. thriftless. disaffected element who. restrained only by force. at home. in this country indulge in most unbridled license. We need tillers of the soil. who by industry will build up the waste places and make our hillsides and valleys golden with the fruits of honest toil. That this is a condition and not a theory which we are confronting may be inferred from the following figures compiled by Chairman McLeod. of the Western Passenger Association: Out. of 700.000 immigrants arriving here in 1902. New York received 203.824. Pennsylvania. 139.000.