Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25
Efforts to Prevent Anarchists From
Landing on Our Shores.
TWO ARE ALREADY HEADEDTHlS WAY
How the immigration Law VIII Be
Made to Apply.
EUROPE WILL COOPERATE

as much to be guarded against just now
as the dread yellow scourge which is
worrying our citizens In the south At least
two foreign germs of the red pestilence are
definitely known to be making plans to
worm themselves through our boundary
lines. just now. and many more are expect
ed to follow suit. The nets straightway to
be cast by our immigration inspectors will
doubtless make a rich haul in the near
future. The past one has been an -un-
usually fruitful anarchist year abroad. Sew
eral foreign governments are becoming
badly frightened, and are rapidly devis:ng
means of Kidding themselves of the pests.
As result of this pressure we will get a
good supply of what Europe is most afraid
Of unless some precautions are taken. One
would naturally suppose that a republican
form of government would be more i'm
mune against anarchistic attacks than any
other. That this is untrue is proven by the
bloody harvests which these dread vam-
pires have lately reaped in France and
Mexico.
Joseph ventre is the name of the anar-
cfist who is trying to enter across our
sc uthern boundary. The immigration au-
thorities have a description Of him, az
veil as of Louise Michel, who proposes
to start for here next month. Ventre who
was lately expelled from Spain, is a dam
Mex. few weeks ago, hoping to reach
here undiscovered by that roundabout
way. Luckily he was detected while trying
to- board an American vessel bound for
TINS country. The captain refused to re-
ceive him. and now he Is believed to be
trying to cross the boundary line between
Mexico and New Mexico or Texas Louise
Michel. who is celebrated French anar-
chist, expects to Preach anarchy Ia this
country during the fall and winter. Both
OF these. however. will be caught in Uncle
Sans new anarchist trap, unless the au-
thorities are bad prophets.
How 1t Can BE Done.
In our immigration laws there is really
no paragraph which specifically forbids
the entrance of anarchists. A list of con-
ditions under which foreigners are for
hidden entrance is given. however There
is hardly an anarchist in the world 10
whom one of these conditions cannot be
made to apply. Thus the immigration laws
will be made to fit the emergency, and it
Is believed that the end viii justify the
means. The classes forbidden entrance to
the United States are such immigrants as
are liable to become a burden to the state,
iaupers, criminals, consumptives suffer-
ers from loathsome or contagious diseases
blind people. lame people, deaf and dumb
people, crippled people, women and chill
bachelors with children and unmarried
women about to become mothers. Under
criminals are included persons who have
been convicted Of felony or other jufa-
nous crime or m.sdemeanor involving
moral turpitude.. But all OF this Is laid
down In the law with the proviso that
nothing therein shall be construed to apply
to or exclude persons convicted of a polit-
ioal offense, although such an offense be
designated in the country in whici, it c.
CURED as felony, crime. Infamous crime,
C: Herein lay the rub which heretofore
landing in this country VINO have not act
TALLY committed some crime for which
they would be convicted by our courts
The fundamental principle upon which
our earliest immigration laws were based
was to make this country an asylum for
unfortunates benished from foreign lands
for political as well as religious reasons
our Supreme Court however, in 1895. es-
government to exclude by law such per-
sons as are considered Objectionable and
tnimical to its institutions or menace
to the peace and welfare of its citizens.
An anarchist is, properly. one who advo-
Gates the absence Of government as poiit-
ical ideal. He is therefore an enemy to
all governments.
than the theoretical means of keeping an
archists out CT our country; first of all.
almost every anarchist can be classed as
criminal The greater number have Grim
lnal records in some foreign land. If they
have not actually dealt in death and de-
struction themselves they have, by deciar-
ing themselves as sympathizers with an
organization so doing, become party to
such deeds and may therefore be ciassed
as accompiices. This is one way of look
ing at 1t. Then again, almost all anar-
chists may be classed among those liable
to become public charge and may be
deported on that score.
Aid From Abroad.
In their crusade against anarchists tie
immigration officials can depend upon ma
tefial Aid from ion
stringent laws against anarchists have
been framed in France and Italy, but they
are considered to be inapplicable to our
form of government, which is much more
OF republic even than France. In Eng
land close watch Is kept upon the move
ments OF anarchists. They are easily de-
tected by their associations The police
authorities claim that their surveillance
over them Is so perfect that the slightest
attempt on their parts to violate q Law Is
punishment.
The official head of the detective force OF
London. at Scotland Yard, has promised to
give information to us concerning the
movements of anarchists in England when
ever 1t is requested. The French are like
wise willing to cooperate with us. Some
Time ago the descriptions of over two hum
ored anarchists expelled from France we're
sent to the State Department through the
French ambassador. These were in,me-
diately translated. put In circular form and
distributed among the secret service and
immigration officials. They were also given
to the various local police authorities.
These were guarded very secretly by the
officials. The name OF each anarchist pre-
coded his description, In a sort OF tabu-
lated list. arranged In alphabetical order.
These names, OF course, count for nothing
since men OF this caliber generally have an
alias for every locality. The French how
ever, through their thorough system OF
classifying and identifying criminaia, were
able to furnish us with details which could
not be disguised In each ease vas given
the exact time and place OF birth. the
names OF both parents and detailed de-
scripfion Of the anarchist. His height was
recorded to the fraction OF a cenfiznerer.
His hair, for instance. was described as
glossy black or curly gray his beard
as "bristiy short" or "cnfly long," his fore
head as round" narrow '.retreafing,.
''fuiF' or Ordinary" Each feature was
commented upon separately, Irregularities
especially being noted. II was conspicuous
that throughout the whole list the nose was
almost Invariably long" In most cases
these persons were described as being
without occupation. Those who had occu-
pations We're generally artisans or those OF
similar station. such as ..bartenders Shoe
makers. bricklayers. etc" But few were
OF French birth. the others being mostly
IN r Doll