PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION
xxiii
The Immigration Problem is one of vital interest
to the American people. President Roosevelt said
that he considered it, with the possible exception of
that of the conservation of the natural resources of
the country, our most important problem. Upon our
policy in dealing with the immigrants depend, to a
very noteworthy extent, the progress and nature of
the development of the nation economically, politi
cally, and socially.
Heretofore the discussions on the subject of Immi
gration have of necessity been based very largely
upon conjecture or the personal observation of indi
viduals, and, far too often, upon prejudice. There
has not been in existence trustworthy statistical mate
rial showing the effects of immigration. The United
States Immigration Commission during the last four
years has, however, gathered such material on a scale
complete enough to enable a reasonably accurate judg
ment to be formed regarding the effects of immigra
tion.
Both of the authors of this book were associated
with the Commission from the beginning, and it has
been their purpose to put into shape for the public,
in such a manner that its significance may be readily
understood by any thoughtful reader, the gist of the
information collected in the forty-two volumes of the
original material published by the Commission. Free
use has been made of the data of the Commission and