AS - RACE DISCRIMINATION ‘ 14h Ve ee ) es ss ™ RESOLUTIONS AND LAWS PASSED. BY THE LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, IN OPPOSITION TO IMMIGRATION FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE REPRINTED BY a NATIONAL LIBERAL IMMIGRATION LEAGUE Heapguarters, 150 Nassau Street NEW YORK CITY i ake Sa Fa es a a IENGERiO7 DU Cor O RBy. . HE resolution and laws published in the following a8 pages will prove the danger of State Legislation which discriminates against various races of European im- migrants. Federal legislation usually attracts publicity, and an opportunity is thus afforded to friends of immigration to combat any restrictionist measures that may be introduced. State immigration legislation, on the other hand, is little known even to citizens of the State concerned, and attracts no immediate attention outside the State. While it is true that such resolutions and laws as those passed by the Legislature of Virginia and the Carolinas can- not keep out even from those very States immigrants admit- ted under our Federal laws, nevertheless these official ex- pressions of ill-will in individual States of the American Union against a large class of our immigrants convey a false impression to the world at large and are thus a serious detri- ment to the best interest of the whole country. The class of immigrants who alone are desired by these State Legislatures would not engage in such laborious work as digging tunnels, paving streets, or even working on farms or in cotton mills. The immigrants whom these Legislatures would keep out are necessary for the upbuilding of the very States responsible for these un-American utterances, as well as for the development of the whole country. The resolutions and laws were passed through the influ- ence of the Immigration Restriction League, the Junior Order United American Mechanics and kindred organizations. It behooves all who realize that every well-meaning and able- bodied immigrant is a clear gain to the country to exert their influence in preventing restrictionist resolutions in other States and to endeavor to have the Legislatures of Virginia, North and South Carolina repeal these ill-advised enactments and adopt counter resolutions and measures favoring the immigration of all honest and healthy workers. NOTE.—The paragraphs objecting to South European immigrants are printed in heavy type. RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA. February 13, 1908. RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia (the House of Dele- gates concurring), that our representatives in both houses of Con- gress be, and they are hereby, requested to oppose in every possi- ble manner the influx to Virginia of immigrants from Southern Europe with their Mafia and Black Hand murder societies and with no characteristics to make them, with us, a homogeneous people, believing, as we do, that upon Anglo-Saxon supremacy depend the future welfare and the prosperity of the common- wealth, and we view with alarm any effort that may tend to cor- rupt its citizenship. PUBLIC LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA—SESSION 1907. An act to promote and encourage the immigration of a desirable class of trained, industrious and economical farmers and other laborers to the State of North Carolina. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact: Section 1. That for the purpose of aiding the farmers and other employers of labor of North Carolina in the proper tilling and cultivation of their farms and filling the need being felt each year by them from the rapidity of decreasing supply of laborers on account of the number of young men and other labor- ers leaving the farms and going to the towns, seeking employ- ment in factories and other industries, the Department of Agri- culture, Immigration and Statistics shall prepare and keep for distribution illustrated literature containing all necessary informa- tion as to mines, minerals, forest, soils, climates, waters, water powers, fisheries, mountains, industries and all other such infor- mation as may be best adapted to adverise the attractions and advantages which this State affords to immigrants, and shall make illustrative exposition thereof whenever practicable in this or foreign countries. Sec. 2. That said department shall be authorized, in the interest of desirable immigration, to employ an agent or agents at such points in this or any foreign country as it may deem expedient or desirable. Sec. 3. That the agent or agents herein authorized be em- powered to make such arrangement with steamship companies and immigration agencies in this country and abroad as may best serve the interests of our people in bringing desirable immi- 4 gration to the State; the necessary expenditure being made within the annual appropriation herein provided for this pur- pose; provided that nothing herein shall prohibit said agent or agents acting without fee as the agents of such citizens of the State who, through the Department of Agriculture, Immigration and Statistics, wish to meet excess expenses of bringing desirable immigrants for farm or other lands or for any industrial pur- pose of whatever nature. Sec. 4. That for carrying out the purposes of this act, the Department of Agriculture is hereby empowered to use annually for the period of five years from the ratification of this act, a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars, to be set aside from the funds of said department, and if necessary to further draw upon State treasury for an equal sum to be set aside from any funds in said treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. 5. That efforts to secure immigrants shall be confined t0 the United States, Canada, and other nations of Teutonic, Celtic or Saxon origin, and that only a desirable class of immigrants be so secured; Provided that the counties of Brunswick, Bladen, Col- umbus, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Pasquotank, Surry, Dare, © Hyde, Martin, Washington, Tyrell, Pamlico, Beaufort, Lencir, Carterst, Graven, Pitt, Montgomery, Camden, Currituck and Duplin, shall be excepted from the restrictions contained in this section, and the department is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise its discretion in securing desirable immigration to the aforesaid counties, and may extend its operations to any country other than Southern Italy, whose inhabitants are adapted to climatic and other conditions existing in the aforesaid counties and who are otherwise desirable as immigrants. Sec. 6. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification. In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of March, A. D. 1907. IMMIGRATION LAW OF SOUTH CAROLINA. An act to establish a Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Immigration and to Provide for the Appointment and Com- pensation of a Commissioner. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, that a State Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Immigration is hereby created, which shall be charged as far as possible with the execution of the work usually 5 devolved upon a bureau of Immigration, a bureau of Agriculture, and a bureau of Publicity. Sec. 2. That the sum of $2,000, if so much be necessary, be appropriated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Department, including postage, the publication from time to time of circulars of information, handbooks on the resources of the State, travelling expenses of the Commissioner or his Clerk, or such persons as may be necessarily employed, and other legiti- mate expenses to be itemized and presented to the Comptroller General, who shall draw his warrant on the State Treasurer, who is hereby directed to pay the same. Sec. 5. That the Commissioner shall make and submit to the Governor, on or before the tenth day of January of each year, a report covering the Department’s work of the preceding year, and the report shall be transmitted to the General Assembly, printed in the same manner as other public documents or as shall otherwise be ordered. Sec. 6. That the Commissioner shall be charged with all work looking to all matters to the promotion of Agriculture, manufacturing and other industries, cattle raising, and all matters tending to the industrial development of the State, with the col- lection and publication of information in regard to localities, character, accessibility, cost and modes of utilization of soils, and more specifically to the inducement of capital and undesirable immigration by the dissemination of information relative to the advantages of soil and climate, and to the natural resources and industrial opportunities offered in this State; that he shall also collect from the farmers and land owners of the State and list information as to lands, stating the number of acres, location, the terms upon which they may be bought, leased or shared to desir- able settlers ; that a land registry shall be kept, and in connection therewith, from time to time, publication shall be made, descrip- tive of such listed agricultural, mineral, forest and trucking lands and factory sites as may be offered to the department for sale or share, which publication shall be in the attractive form, setting forth the county, township, number of acres, names and addresses of owners, and such other information as may be helpful in placing inquiring homeseekers in communication with land owners. Sec. 7. That the Commissioner shall collect in a form of handbook of the State, to be issued when practicable, information showing the nature and industrial resources and advantages of the State of South Carolina, dealing with soil, climate, raw and 6 manufacturing productions, agricultural and horticultural prod- ucts, textile fabric, manufacturing industries, mines and mining, native woods, means of transportation, cost of living, the mar- ket and all material and social advantages for those seeking homes and investments in agricultural or manufacturing indus- tries. Sec. 8. That the Commissioner be empowered to make such arrangements with oceanic and rivers steamship companies and immigration agencies, in this country and abroad, as may best serve the interests of successful immigration, the necessary ex- penditures being made within the annual appropriation for the general expenses of this department; provided, however, nothing herein shall forbid the Commissioner acting without fee as the agent of such citizens of the State, who, through the South Caro- lina Immigration Association, the department wish to meet ex- cess expenses of bringing desirable immigrants to their farms or | other lands. That in the discharge of these duties the Commis- sioner, or such person as he may select, is empowered to visit such immigration centers whenever necessary to produce the best results. Sec. 9. That in order to facilitate the collection and colla- tion of exact information of the resources of the State Govern- ment and of the State, institutions are hereby required to furnish accurately such information as may be at their command to the Commissioner when called upon for same. That the Commis- sioner is hereby empowered to enter manufacturing establish- ments, chartered by the State, in prosecution of this work, and that the corporation operating same shall furnish such informa- tion as may not be injurious to their business, when requested to furnish the same by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Commerce and Immigration. SEC. 10. That nothing in this Act contained shall be so con- structed as to repeal or interfere with the duties or work of the Chemist or Faculty of Clemon Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege, the State Geologist, or any other department of the State government of South Carolina. Sec. 11, That immigrants shall be confined to white citizens of the United States, citizens of Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, France, and all other foreigners of Saxon origin. Sec. 12. That with regard to agricultural interests under this Act, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner to secure those immigrants who desire to purchase*homes, become citizens of this State and will build up agricultural interests. SEC. 13. That“ ts Act shall be a public Act and take effect upon its approval by the Governor. 7 Yat me 2 r