New-York tribune., 1901-01-26
DEBATE ON IMMIGRATION.
MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE FOR PoLIT-
ICAL EDUCATION HOLD AN IN
TERESTING DISCUSSION

Some laughter and much acquiescent applause
greeted Mrs. Frederick Nathan's assertion yester-
day at the debate Of the League for Political Edu-
cation that the foreign noblemen, artists actors,
musicians and elocutionists were the only proper
subjects for exclusion policy The subject Of the
debate was should the United States make and
enforce laws 10 restrict the immigration Of un-
skilled laborers?''
Miss Helena Zachos opened for the affirmative,
saying that It is less true for the nation than
for the individual that selfpreservation is the first
Law Of nature. Until the last quarter ef century,
she said, the laws prohibiting the landing OF GRIM
inal insane, diseased and pauper classes had been
sufficient 10 protect the National life but the
change in the character OF immigration has been
so great that the Nation a whole is menaced.
Up 10 1881 the greater influx from the hardy
Northern races of Europe, branches OF the same
tree the American, and capable of readily as
similating. Now the tide Of immigration is from
Southern and Far Eastern Europe, and consists Of
races whose characteristics render them unable
20 become homogeneous part OF the Nation, and
having neither brain nor Drawn"
Seventy-hVe per cent of the half million who
landed here last year was the scum OF Southern
and Eastern Europe. How long stand il, -
asked Miss ZachOs, without feeling the taint?
These people fiji our charitable institutions, insane
asylums and prisons and make our slums. What
right have 10 permit the degradation Of our
great heritage of race by taking in those who are
so far below even the average Of their own races?
II is no real charity those nations to relieve
that any people rise is 10 work out the prob
lem Of progress IN themselves. Otherwise they
grow more degenerate, and We, as constantly. have
their degeneracy thrust upon How long will
II take US TO degenerate ourselves under these
ditions?'
Mrs. Frederick Nathan opened the negative side
OF the question by saying that il is well TO shut out
the pauper, the criminal and the insane but We
are not justified in excluding unskilled laborers.
There is ample room for them in the untitled
acres Of the South and West" she said. ''and even
IN the cities they are needed, as Americans will
not DO laborer's work. In factories. railroads,
unskilled labor-the labor OF the hands-is neces-
sity some OF the foremost pioneers were Of this
came came here Pennies errand boy Who can tell
Mrs Nathan denied the truth of the assertion
pointing to the fact that the Russian and Polish
Jews after year or two IN our schools. take the
head OF their classes and win the prizes. She com
pared the New World TO raft on which the
Anglo-SaXons were sailing in safety, and would
push on al clinglng hands or other peoples; Incl
oentally she said that the really objectionable
houses our nurses and our nafronaee Tbev If
,-,- 49, Cet oeL 80
Mrs Clarence Burns said for the affirmative
that the raft metaphor might be used on that side.
1T would surely be unwise 10 take on so many
that the raft would be tipped over and everybody
foreign unsked laborer underseIls the market
that his low social standard makes him valueless
century modes Of living into the present with con-
said Mrs Burns, that the skilled labor repre-
sented by trades unions has suffered through i'm
migrant labor by having wages reduced and the
working curtailed."
The remedies she suggested were: To close
United States ports 70 ordinary immigration for
several years and 10 make exception only for
those who paid their own passage and proved their
possession OF thrift, energy and sef-denial
ing with them a sum equal to six months wages
In the United States. This. Mrs. Burns thought
would give time for amelioratiOn Of present con-
otions.
John Martin closed the argument in the negative
by characterizing any policy Of exclusion as "a
Chinese wall" and said Newly Workers are too apt
10 think that New-YOrk is the United States There
Is room in the country for an who come and
enough work for every one"
, In summing up for the close Of the debate Miss
Zachos answered Mr.. Martins assertion that
there is room enough in the country for all who
come by quoting from an official record of the
immigration OF the last year. prove that an i'm
and State
The vote the merits of the question was
strongly IN the affirmative