LECTURE BY F. P. SARGENT

Mr. Frank P. Sargent, Commissioner-General of Immigration at Washington, D. C., delivered an interesting address on "Immigration" in the Union last night.

Only within the last 30 years, said Mr. Sargent, have we come to realize that we are a nation of immigrants, for there are very few of us whose ancestors did not come from a foreign country. Until recently the greater part of our immigrants have been the hard-working, law-abiding people of Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, who have become assimilated with us as an important part of our nation. Lately, however, large numbers of Italians, Hungarians, and Russian Jews have become to this country; but we need not be alarmed, provided they are put to work and not allowed to become attracted to our large cities.

During the last 12 months, 1,285,349 immigrants came to this country, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia sending the greatest numbers; and they brought with them $25,599,893. The greatest inducements offered to these people to come to America are the letters of relatives or friends who have come here and have seen the opportunities given to hard-working people.

Mr. Sargent does not believe in the illiteracy test for immigrants because it excludes some of the very best of them and admits anarchists and men who teach doctrines which cause distress to the country. He advocates a system of most rigid examinations and restrictions to prevent criminals, anarchists, agitators and people affected with disease iron entering the country. The inspection and examination, however, should be made, not in this country, but at the ports of embarkation.