Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1911 — OFFICIAL INVITATION TO AMERICANS [ARTICLE]

OFFICIAL INVITATION TO AMERICANS

,HOW ROBERT ROGERS, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, IN WINNIPEG ADDRESS, IBBUES WELCOME OF AMERICXNB TO WESTERN CANADA. i M During the course of aVeply to an address presented to Hon. Robert Rogers, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior of Canada at a. banquet given at Winnipeg in his honor that gentleman spoke on Immigration. The tone of his remarks was that he Intended to pursue an aggressive and for* ward policy In the matter of immigration. In part, he said: "The most important branch perhaps of that department (Interior) is that of Immigration. “If there Is anything more than another we want here it Is a greater population, and it shall be my duty to present to the people in all parts of the world where desirable emigrants are to be found the advantages and the great possibilities of this country. We have received In the past a reasonably large immigration from south of the International boundary, and in this connection let me say just a word for our American cousins who,have found happy homes amongst us, and those whom we hope to welcome In greater numbers in the years to come. There are hundreds of thousands of them in our prairie provinces, happy in the enjoyment of a freedom as great as they ever knew, and all contributing in a material way towards the development of Canada. We are not blind to their value as settlers. They come better equipped with scientific farming knowledge than most of our emigrants, and constitute without doubt the wealthiest class of emigrants any new country has ever known. As head of the immigration department it will be my privilege to offer them a welcome hearty and sincere, and to so contribute to their welfare that under the protecting folds of the Union Jack they will enjoy as great a degree of liberty and happiness as under the Stars and Stripes., The Borden government cherishes nothing but the kindliest feelings for the people of the great republic to the south, and will do all in its power to increase the bonds of kinship and neighbourly {mod feeling that has so long existed. (Hear, hear.) “While we adopt a vigorous emigration policy in that country, we will also adopt the same vigorous policy in other parts of the world. We will go to England, Ireland and Scotland, and every other country irrespective of race, creed or nationality, where we can find suitable and desirable emigrants for this great country. I think much good work can be done In those countries, and especially perhaps at the present time in England, Ireland and Scotland. Now, then, it will be my duty to stir up that policy in the most vigorous manner possible.”