12 
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM 
The World War lowered economic standards in many 
parts of Europe, more particularly in those parts from 
which the bulk of our immigrants have come and are 
coming. During the same period the economic stan 
dards in America have been raised. In consequence, 
the economic motive, which has always been the domi 
nant one, urging large masses of people to migrate, has 
been greatly strengthened. This condition presents a 
serious situation to our political leaders since it involves 
possibly a mass immigration of peoples from Europe 
to the United States. The fear of such a probability 
has made the acceptance on the part of America of a 
permanent policy of drastic restriction likely as a meas 
ure of protection for American standards of living. 
Wages and Standards of Living Much Lower in 
Europe than in the United States 
The contrast in conditions between the parts of 
Europe from which most of our immigrants come 
to-day and the United States, is perhaps most notice 
able in agricultural districts. Our farmers and farm 
laborers are, on the whole, the most prosperous and 
comfortable, of our so-called laborers, with the ex 
ception of our skilled artisans. In Russia, where the 
change from a condition of serfdom has not always 
resulted in greater comfort for the people, a crop 
failure is likely to result in a famine. Such a condi 
tion prevails in a large part of Russia at the present 
time. In other countries the methods of cultivation 
are often so primitive, the markets so difficult of ac 
cess, the taxes so high, that the margin of profit is 
very low. A bad crop or two often means disaster— 
emigration, if possible, where that can be attained. 
The money wages in southern and eastern Europe,