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 a Means for Keep
ing Out 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 mada
when Governor Stone, of Pennsylvania,
was member of the House of Representa-
tives. measure advocated by him specific
ally excluded Anarchists as such and pro-
vided various safeguards for indentifying
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.
II was urged that it would be a dangerous
precedent to prosecute or punish man
for supporting a theory or having a GER
tain opinion without proof that he had
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 as 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
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 so as to reach
those who associate themselves with anar-
chistic groups before or after they have
in,
responded:
1.-The immigration laws can be amended
so as to exclude from landing in this coun-
try persons known to be Anarchists abroad.
by requiring OF every immigrant TO present
a certificate from the municipality In which
he resided at home to the effect that ne
was a res )ectable law-abiding 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
law effective, representatives of the lmml-
grafton Bureau should be stationed In for
eign countries from which immigrants
come, whose duty 1t should be 10 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 be-
ing permitted to embark for the United
States. In this way our immigration Of
ficers would have a 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
foreign government; If such a person is
injured or if the lives of foreign subjects
are taken in any public ARRAY, the foreign
government looks to ours for indemnity
and il is but reasonable TO suggest that
during the time they are subjects of for
egn governments in this country they
should be subject to deportation for their
own misdeeds.
''It is all very we'll to talk of the United
States as 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 great 1t
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 to enjoy the right OF free
speech In this country. The law should be
so framed as to enable the authorities 10
place the strong hand of justice upon all
Anarchists who breed such sentiments as
Emma Goldman gave expression TO, and
TO deport them al once.
From the press dispatches it would seem
that several Anarchist groups have held
meetings and rejoiced i'm the fiendish at
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
sembling of such characters They were
not advocating reform or the redress of
grievances of any kind; they were APP
plauds murder is himself a murderer at
heart and should be punished. No maudlin
sentiment should stand in the way of
reaching these people