The

Immigration Problem

BY

JEREMIAH W. JENKS, Ph.D., LL.D.

Professor of Economics and Politics, Cornell University; Member of the
Former United States Immigration Commission

AND

W. JETT LAUCK, A.B.

Former Assistant-Professor of Economics and Politics, Washington and
Lee University; Expert in Charge of the Industrial Investiga-
tions of the Former United States Immigration Com
mission; Chief Examiner, United States
Tariff Board

FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY

NEW YORK AND LONDON

Preface

CONTENTS

I-INTRODUCTION

PAGE

XV

1. The Statement of the Immigration Problem.

2. Establishment of Immigration Commission to Study

Problem

Nature of Its Work.

3. Principles upon which American Civilization is Based

4. Subjects Treated in Determining Effects of Immigra-

tion upon American Standards.

Physical, Mental, and Moral Characteristics

Political and Social Institutions

Industrial Conditions

5. Need of Impartial Study of Remedies.

II-CAUSES OF IMMIGRATION

1. Escape from Religious or Political Persecution.

2. At Present, Motive Primarily Economic ...

3. European's Wages and Standards of Living Much
Lower than in the United States.

4. Military Service .

10

12

13

234

5. Effect of Immigration upon European Countries. . . 14

6. Attitude of European Governments Toward Immigra-

tion.

.

7. Effect Upon the United States of the Return to

Europe of the Immigrant.

15

8. How Far Does America Need a Cheap Labor Supply 17

9. What is the True Demand for Labor.

10. Immediate Inducement of Immigration

The Returned Immigrant .

Steamship and Railway Companies

Assisted Emigration

20

20

III-CHARACTERISTICS OF IMMIGRANTS WHICH

AFFECT AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS

1. Political and Social Institutions Modeled by Condi-

tions

PAGE

23

2. Character and Extent of Immigration May Seriously

Affect American Institutions

23

City Versus Country Dwellers

3. Countries of Origin and Character of the Early and

Late Immigration .

Total European Immigration.

Physical Condition

Alien Seamen .

24

25

26

26

27

Difficulty of Administration of the Law
Classes of Crime

New Measures Needed.

7. Birth-Rate Among Immigrants and Their Descend-

ants

Women Bearing No Children

Average Number of Children.

Relation of Years of Married Life to Birth

Rate, by Races

8. The Social Evil and the White-Slave Traffic.

Economic Causes

Races in Court.

Methods of Entry.

Legislation and Administration.

9. Undue Importance Attached to the Social Effects of

Immigration

V-MANUFACTURING AND MINING COMMUNITIES

1. The Extent to Which Immigrant Colonies Exist.... 67

2. Types of Immigrant Communities . . .

3. Segregation of the Immigrant Population.

4. The Significance of Immigrant Communities

VI-THE IMMIGRANT IN AGRICULTURE

68

73

75

77

1. The Foreign-Born Farmer in the United States. . .

The Races from Northern and Western Europe 77

The Southern and Eastern European Farmer 80

2. Immigrant Agricultural Colonies. . .

The North and South Italians.

Hebrew Agricultural Communities

3. Polish and Bohemian Farmers

4. Other Races.

5. The Japanese in the East.

6. Seasonal Agricultural Laborers.

Cranberry Pickers

Beet-sugar Laborers

7. Farm Hands and Canning Factory Operatives in the

United States

VII-IMMIGRANT INSTITUTIONS

1. Unregulated Immigrant Banks . .

83

83

87

89

90

91

92

93

96

The Term Immigrant Bank a Misnomer

Races as Bankers

97

98

2. The Origin of Immigrant Banks

Ownership and Organization..