Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1901 — The Foreign Element. [ARTICLE]

The Foreign Element.

The census returns for 1900 showed that of the then inhabitants of Chicago 40 per cent were foreign-born. The percentage of foreign-born inhabitants was a little larger in New York. It was much smaller in Philadelphia. There it was only 25 per cent. It is evident that the “foreign element” is not responsible for the poor governments of large American cities, for Philadelphians seem to be unable to manage their municipal affairs honestly and efficiently. The census figures for lass year show a decrease of the percentage of persons of foreign birth in Chicago to about 35 per cent, and presto, Chicago begins to grow worse. The, native-born residents numbered 1,111,000, and the foreign-born residents 587,000. Chicago is not so much of a foreign city as it was. The number of persons of foreign birth increased only 137,000 in the decade, and that of persons of native birth 462,000. But the native white males and females born of native parents living in Chicago last year numbered only 354,OuO, as against 727,000 natives of foreign parentage. If foreign immigrants and their immediate descendants had kept away from Chicago it would have been an inconsiderable place. Of the 967,000 men and women of foreign birth who were residing in Illinois last year more than half, it will be seen, were in Chicago. They found employment and are helping with their manual or mental labor to build up Chicago, says the Tribune of Chicago.