The Washington herald., 1906-12-21
WOMAN MAY REMAIN
Despite Law in Case Mother
Is Not DepOrted.
WASHINGTON MUST DECIDE IT
the Commissioner of Ina
migration. Allows His Parental In
stincfs to Sweep Aside the Law and
lie Refuses TO Part Family at Ellis
IsInnd-ThOught OF Golden Rule.

New York, Dec 20-RObert Z. Watch
orr is commissioner Of immigration, but
Mr. Watchorn is a father That's why
the commissioner for the first time in his
life has refused to obey the law. and
that is why a little Jewish mother is not
~ torn away from the bosom OF her
family. as the law Drescribes she shall be.
Commissioner Watchorn as an official
decided that as the mother was suffering
from a contagious disease of the eyes
she would have 10 be deported He has
tried three times to carry out his duty
10 the government. but each time his
feelings as a man and father have baked
him.
He just can't do it. so he is going to
let the man higher up in Washington
pass final judgment upon the fate Of the
unfortunate woman.
Sent for His Wife.
Itzig Weissberg is a prosperous tailor
in Albany. He came here FIVE years ago
with his eldest daughter, who has kept
house for him ever since. Weissberg ap-
piled for citizenship papers. and recently
decided 10 send for his wife. Goldie. who
arrived last week on the steamer Rhein,
bringing with her the other children
Bessie. ffteen years; Lieb, ten; Moroche,
seven. and Josip. five.
Weissberg was at Ellis Island to greet
his family. His face was wreathed in
smiles when he saw his younger children.
and he chuckled gleefully when he tossed
the baby in his arms high in the air.
But he thought it strange that his wife
was behind bars and not permitted ito
greet him properly.
The doctors told the tailor that his
wife was suffering from trachoma and
stay. they said. but the wife must 90
back 70 Europe
But she has nobody there" he cried
she has no home; nowhere to go"
But his appeal did not move them.
"MuSt Go Back Says OmciHI.
Mr. Watchorn, the official heard the
case in the board room. He saw the lit
tie woman with the hair streaked with
gray. with the sad. appealing eyes and
the mute trembling lips The official
saw the little family at her side, and he
in the other corner Of the room.
She must go back" said the official.
and the interpreter mumbled it of TO
them in Russian. their native tongue.
Then Joseph began to cry and the mother
clasped the baby to her breast and
their sobs made the official turn his eyes
toward the south window where the
steamboats, lie.
Then the well Of unofficial manhood
broke its dam and the official didn't see
the steamboats, nor anything else but the
little family back Of him The fatherly
Watchorns lip began to tremble. The
majesty of the law was in peril The Of
fetal WatChoTn lip grew as rigid as death
The OmciaI speaks.
Take them away said the official
Watchorn. shell have to so back" and
as though squaring accounts4with some
thing within his heart. the official added:
4 can't help IL"
So it was arranged that the woman
should be returned on the steamer Yorck
yesterday The representative Of the law
in blue uniform and brass buttons took
the little woman with the gray hair to-
hd4u lllt steamboat liidl Mdc EDls 10
transfer her TO the Yorck ready to start
for Bremen
As brass buttons told tle little Russian
mother that she might say "good-by'' TO
her four younger children. the official
Watch0rn came IN. The mother caught
sight of him and before he realized what
had happened she was on her knees in
the great wide rotunda kissing the
ground and begging him, between sobs,
not TO part her from her children.
Thought of Golden Rule.
Watchorn thought of section some
thing or other. which made il mandatory
upon him to deport the woman. That was
the official Watchorn. The unofficial
Watchon thought Of d golden rule he
once learned in Sunday school
Take her back to the hospital he
said. IN give you further orders in ten
minutes.
Twice after that the start Of the
woman for the steamship was made, but
each time the official Watchorn let senti-
ment get the better of duty. and to-day
the little Russian mother stiIl is sepa-
rated from her family and waiting 70 be
deported
I,,,4 h.. is D.