It is not a factious objection. but it is one of the most material character. as I will endeavor to show to the Senate. The Secretary of Commerce and Labor. after reciting the facts and quoting the law on the subject of the solicitation of inmigrants to come to this country and of furnishing them with the means to do so. said this: It will not be questioned. after reading the foregoing provisions. that the actions of Commissioner Watsonthat was the name of the officer of the Stateas recited above. if performed by a private person. would fall squarely within the condemnation of the statutes. In other words. if as a private person he had gone to Europe and used the funds which had been furnished to him for the purpose of soliciting immigrants to come to this country and had paid their passage. he would have fallen under the condemnation of the law and been liable to the penalty which is prescribed in the law. But the Secretary goes on to say: Commissioner Watson was not acting in his private capacity. however. but as the representative of the State of South Carolina. Then in the argument that follows lie discusses the question whether or not that is a violation of the law. or whether the agent was within his rights. or rather the rights of the State as the representative of that State. The Secretary comes to the conclusion. and so rules. that it is in order for t State to appoint an ollicer to go to Europe for the purpose of setting out the advantages to immigrants in coming to that State. and that. in the expenditures which he incurred in so doing and in the furnishing to the immigrants of the moneys necessary to bring them to this country. he is not limited to the money which may be given to him by the State. but that it is legitimate for him to receive that money from private associations. Mr. President. that was a most importafit ruling and one which opened the door to the people of the South to procure immigration. which it is otherwise impossible for them to secure. The people of the North need no such assistance. There is a great tide of immigration coming to them without any such assistance. There were over a million immigrants in the past year who came. while there were not enough of them who came to the South to be counted. So that it is a question whether or not tle South shall stand by and see its industries languish. and many of them perish. for the lack of labor. when the North and Northwest have a tide of immigration which they are utilizing. and which is bringing to them great wealth. or whether the South shall use the small opportunity. which the present existing law gives them. to supply themselves. even in some moderate degree. with this essential element in the prosecution of their work. We are not asking. Mr.
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