The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09
REMEDY FOR ANARCHISM
MIR. POWDERLY DISCUSSES THE
DANGERS OF IMMIGRATION.
He Advocates Some Radical Changes
i'm the Law as n Means for Keep
ing Ont Anarchists.

WASHINGTON. Sept. S.-Strong efforts
have been made to induce Congress to
enact laws excluding Anarchists from
coming into the United States, but thus
far without success. Probably the strong
est movement in that direction was made
when Governor Stone. of Pennsylvania,
was member of the House of Representa-
tives. a measure advocated by him specific
ally excluded Anarchists as such and pro-
vided various safeguards for ndentifying
them. The measure was vigorously OPP
posed. some of the most prominent men
in Congress identifying themselves with
the opposition on the ground that the term
anarchist" was a general characterization.
1t was urged that it would be a dangerous
precedent 10 prosecute or punish a man
for supporting a theory having a Ger
tain opinion without proof that he mad
committed an actual crime This and other
objections led to the failure of the measure.
The commissioner of immigration Mr..
Powderly. in his annual reports, asked Con-
gress to give him power to exclude Anarch-
lists such. saying men prominent in
the Anarchist groups of Europe had ar
rived at American ports from time TO time,
and that there was no means Of turning
Of excluding them has been under some
of the general provisions of the exclusion
laws, as criminals, paupers. etc, and as a
rule it has been impossible to fasten crime
or pauperism upon them. Commissioner
Powderly, on being asked if the immigra-
ton laws could be amended as to reach
those who associate themselves with anar-
chistic groups before or after they have
faL pSid
responded:
THE immigration laws can be amended
so as TO exclude from landing i'm this coun-
try persons known to be Anarchists abroad.
by requiring OF every immigrant nj 10 present
a certificate from the municipality In Whlch
he resided at home to the effect that he
a respectable, law-abidlng man, that
he was not in any way identified with any
Anarchist organization and that he was or
good character. In order TO make such a
law effective, representatives OF the lminl-
grafton Bureau should be stationed In for
eign countries from which immigrants
come, whose duty it should be TO examine
carefully into the character of immigra-
ton tending toward the United States. All
certificates should be passed upon and all
immigrants examined carefully before De
ing permitted to embark for the United
fcers would have means of knowing
something concerning the antecedents OF
those applying for admission.
Until a person becomes a naturalized
American citizen he or she is subject to a
foreign government if such a person is
injured if the lives of foreign subjects
are taken in any public affray. the foreign
government looks 20 ours for indemnity
and il is but reasonable to suggest that
during the time they are subjects of for
eign governments in this country they
should be subject to deportation for their
own miSdeedS.
ut is all very well to talk of the United
States IA the asylum of the oppressed of
all nations; that did very well years ago,
but that was before the immigration be-
gan to flow so rapidly to our shores. The
need of an asylum is not so great as IT
once was. and the danger OF making this
country an asylum for vagabonds is in
creasing every year The man who shot
President Mckinley admits that he re-
ceived his inspiration through the anarchis-
tic teachings of Emma Goldman. who was
permitted 10 enjoy the right of free
so framed as to enable the authorities to
place the strong hand of justice upon all
Anarchists who breed such sentiments as
Emma Goldman gave expression to, and
to deport them at once.
From the press dispatches ii would seem
that several Anarchist groups have held
meetings and reioiced in the fiendish at
tempt on the life of the President. Every
one assembled at each of those meetings
should be taken out and. If aliens, de-
ported. If citizens. they should be promptly
tried for their offense, but in any event
the authorities should prevent the as
sembling of such characters. They were
grievances of any kind; they were ap-
pauding murder and the man who APP
paudS murder is himself a murderer at
heart and should be punished. No maudin
sentiment should stand in the way of
reaching these people.