Evening star., 1904-04-30
RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS
England's Proposed Registra-
tion Law.
THE GREAT PROBLEM
COUNTLESS NUMBERS COME FROM
RUSSIA EVERY YEAR.
Major Gordon Talks of the Results Of
His Tour of Investigation in
the Jewish Pale.
THE GREAT PROBLEM

LONDON, April 20, 1904.
Mai. w. Evans Gordon, the member OF
parliament from Stepney. that part of Lon
don containing the ghetto of the city, has
finally succeeded in introducing his bill for
the regulation OF immigration into the
united kingdom. The bill Is proposed as
government measure. under the auspices of
the home secretary. 1t is looked upon,
however as a feeler for public and parlia-
mentary opinion rather than as a measure
by which the government would stand or
fall. Even It's sponsors entertain grave
doubts as to its adoption. and certainly do
not anticipate that it will become law as
introduced.
The great problem of London Is the Rus
sian Jew. These people come in countless
numbers from Russia every year, finding
their way to all parts of the world. Many
of them settle permanently in London.
Others stay here short time and then
proceed to the United States. Sentiment in
favor of their exclusion is very general and
extends even to their own countrymen who
have long been residents of London. An
example of this was given within the past
few days when the Jewish bakers went on
a strike against the employment of newly
arrived Jews who offered to work for lower
wages than were being paid to those al
ready employed.
1t is difficult to exclude any man from
country when no reason of physical diSabil-
ity. criminal career, promise of mme-
date helplessness presents itself, and the
attention of the English government has
been directed to the source of this immigra-
tion with the idea that possibly Russia
might be prevailed upon in some manner to
check the flow. To obtain an intelligent
knowledge of the situation, Maj. Gordon
was sent by the royal commission engaged
In considering this matter on tour through
Russia. where he visited the provinces
which are furnishing the bulk of the Rus
sian emigrants for England and the United
States.
United States Interested in Question.
'The United States and England" said
Maj Gordon today "are mutually inter-
ested In this question. and 1t would be to
the great advantage OF both countries If
some means could be discovered of regulat-
ing the coming of these people. There is no
demand for them. In England they are
coming to a labor market already over
stocked and where there is considerable
distress among large class of people. The
bill now before parliament, in which I am
very much interested contains two sug-
gestions over which there will undoubtedly
be much controversy before 1t Is decided
whether they can be embodied in a law
One of these is the power which the bill
proposes to give to local authorities to pre-
vent aliens from coming into districts al
ready crowded. and the other is the power
II is proposed to give to the court to exile
an alien after he shall have been convicted
of crime involving a least three months
imprisonment.
The British parliament has a right to
confer these powers, for there Is no restric-
tlon to the contrary. but there is a wide
difference of opinion as to the possibilities
OF administering such a law, and even as
to Its advisability. I secured much inter-
esting information in regard to the Jews
during my visit to Russia. '' -'-.
Il found for instance that there are now
over five million Jews In the Russian en-
pire. They live in what is known in Eng
land as the Jewish Pale. 1t comprises over
population of about 80, 600 600 and to this
Pale must be added Poland with its 10 OOO-
O0h people. AS stated over 10 per cent OF
these people are Jews.
Persecution / found to be a relative
term. From an English-speaking point of
View. every one in Russia is more or less
prosecuted, owing to the very close personal
control which is exercised by the govern
ment over the movement and actions of all
Its citizens. Jewish emigration is due,
primarily, to what are known as the May
laws of 1882. These laws provided that
only those who could prove the right of
residence prior to that year would be al
lowed to live in the country. All others
were driven into the towns. Some idea of
the operations of this law is obtained from
the fact that In eighteen months after 1t
was passed the Jewish population of the
town of Tscherngov rose from 5000 to
10000 souls. so that four people had to find
enough for one to earn bread.
1T is obvious that this confinement to the
towns must lead to the overcrowding not
only of the houses. but of all employment.
and here again the Russian law steps in to
make the lot of the Jew as burdensome as
possible. No sort of employment paid d-
rectly or indirectly by the state is open to
Jew. He can obtain no work from the
municipality of the town in which he re-
sides. The government endeavors as far
as possible to prevent the Jew from obtain
ing any work over which 1t has control. If
concession is granted, a specific provision
is made that no Jew is to be employed in
Its construction or working. and they are
rgidly excluded from being porters on the
railways or walters at railway restaurants.
THE cumulative effect of all these restric-
tions is an overwhelming competition to
obtain living from the few employments
which are left open. There is little work
to be done and vast numbers of people to do
1T. The margin between life and starvation
is so narrow that the least disturbance or
crisis becomes a disaster and leads newt
ably to increased emigration. 1t is not to
be supposed, however. that all Jews in Rus
sia are poor and prosecuted. Numbers of
them have done and are doing extremely
well The professions of merchant and
trader open to them, and they have
taken full advantage of the opportunity
thus provided"
Reason for Russian Laws.
When asked the reason for enactment and
Gordon said: "rhe ostensible reason for this
law was the allegation that the Jews were
exploiting the agricultural regions for
their own benefit; that they controlled all
the supplies and the business facilities of
the farmers to the end that the latter were
oppressed The statement that the Jews
controlled the business of the country is
probably well founded in fact as wher-
ever there is anything to be bought or sold
In Russia you will be certain TO find the
Jews as an intermediary. He is clever and
indefatlgable, but perhaps not overburdened
with scruples. In this respect he may not
differ from his Russian foreign competi-
tor. but no doubt he will derive hard bar
gain the Russian peasant has found to
his cost.
This law had the effect of giving the
Jews who legally remained in the country
a monopoly of the business. These people
are, therefore, quite naturally not In favor
of resembling the measure. In each little
country village the smaller industries are
carried on by the Jews, and they do not
desire any competition even from people of
their own race and religion Hence those
who were driven into cities by the operation
OF the law do not find much sympathy or
agitation on their behalf among the Jews
who remain in the country.
"The export and import trade of Russia