1912] Immigration. 13 



Proportion borne by the number of labourers employed in agri- 

 culture to the total number of labourers in Massachusetts: 



Labourers of native descent 63.6% 



Labourers of foreign descent (includes only races 



specified in table) 30-S% 



Labourers of Welsh descent 78 . 7% 



Labourers of Swedish descent 40. 1% 



Labourers of German descent 38 . 4% 



Labourers of Scotch descent 38 . 2% 



Labourers of English descent 37-1% 



Average of five races 38 . 5% 



Labourers of Polish descent 58 . 0% 



Labourers of Portuguese descent 38 • I % 



Labourers of Russian descent 20. 3% 



Labourers of Italian descent 3 • 7% 



Average of four races 23 . 0% 



Labourers of Irish descent 17 • 9% 



In Massachusetts, all the British and Teutonic peoples retain their 

 preference for the country. The Irish again follow the Italians in their 

 love of city-life, though not so closely as in previous tables. The Russians 

 may be grouped with them ; and between Russians and English the differ- 

 ence is conspicuous. The only Latin people showing a preference for 

 agriculture are the Portuguese, who form only 2}4% of the total number 

 of labourers. The only people from Eastern Europe, whose agricultural 

 proclivities are above the average, are the Poles, who, however, are only 

 half as numerous, all told, as the Portuguese. In spite of these two 

 minor variations, we may fairly say that the rule holds good, the Northern 

 and Eastern races being quite distinct in their love of the country. The 

 Jews appear in this Report to have been included among the people of 

 the country from which they came. The Polish figure suggests that 

 they may have been classified rather clumsily, though in any case the 

 number of Jewish labourers is probably very small. 



A further piece of collateral evidence is supplied by the evidence of 

 Mr. Hall before the Industrial Commission.* A question of Representa- 

 tive Livingston, as to whether New York and Boston could not rid them- 

 selves of the foreign element if they pleased, elicited the following: "The 

 experiment has been tried in New York by the Hebrew Aid Society in 

 colonising Hebrews. I think $600.00 per family was expended in carry- 

 ing some families out of New York City. In two years most of them 

 were back again: they will not stay. I think you will find it the same 

 way with the Italians, Armenians, Hungarians, and Slovaks. When I 



*Report of the Industrial Commission, Vol. XV., Hearings, p. 56. 



