THE DAILY PROVINCE, VANCOUVER, BRITISH
COLUMBIA DECEMBER 21, 1908

A FIELD FOR THE SIKHS.
------------------A disposition may be shown in some quarters to regard the proposal of
Teja Singh, the picturesque leader of the East Indians in British Columbia, to
find a lucrative field of labor for his countrymen in the rice and sugar
plantations of Louisiana, as visionary, but there is no reason why it should be
not only feasible but successful. The Sikhs of Northern India would find there
just the conditions which would appeal to them. The climate does not differ
greatly from that of India and the labor would be congenial. No doubt the
United States immigration laws might offer some obstacle to their entry, but
those who are fathering the project are apparently satisfied that any objection
of that nature can be overcome.
It must be evident that the United States as well as the Sikhs would gain
by the accession of a considerable population of these Indians to Louisiana.
No better settlers could be secured for that apart of the republic. The only
reasons that they do not make acceptable settlers in British Columbia is that
they cannot adapt themselves to the conditions here. The labor which they
are called upon to perform, if they are to be self-supporting, is entirely new to
them and is too heavy. In addition, the climate, mild as it is for the white-men,
is not mild enough for those accustomed to the hot skies of India. On the
plantations of Louisiana the labor would not be heavy, but its proper
performance would require patience, and this the Sikh and Hindu possess in a
high degree.
There can be no doubt that the intelligent natives of India would quickly
make their presence felt for good in that part of America and would easily
drive out the plantations the black labor which is such a detriment to the
progress of Louisiana. All well wishers of the Indian people will hope that
success may crown the efforts in this project of Teja Singh and those who may
be associated with him in the movement.