Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-12
BAR ORIENTALS?
NO, SAYS BAER
EXCLUSION LAWS UNJUST, AS
SERTS EDUCATOR
occIpENTAL's PRESIDENT TALKS
ON IMMIGRATION
Problem in California; Is Serious, His
Belief, but He Advocates No
More Restrictions Than
Apply In East

Speaking to a large portion OF the
membership and invited guests OF the
Ebell club yesterday, DR.. John Willis
Baer. president of Occidental college,
expressed the opinion that immigration
conditions on the west coast should be
similar to those on the east-admit all
who can satisfy the requirements OF the
inspectors.
"This immigration question In Cali
fornia is a big problem" said DR.. Baer,
but who's afraid?"
DR.. Baer expressed himself as OPP
posed to the Chinese exclusion law,
holding that 1t is unamerican and I'M
christianlike.
Roosevelt. he stated, has expressed
his platform in terse manner, AIDING.
1--WE can't have too much immigration
of the right kind, and we want none OF
the wrong"
The speaker alluded to the eastern
gateway of the nation, saying that
originally the country opened her doors
to the poor and oppressed of other
lands. but lately has enacted restrictive
laws He believes In the present law
as it is administered at the eastern
gateway.
Many Foreigners Leave
To those who regard immigration as
n menace he stated that during one
year more than a million immigrants
sought these shores, but out of that
million 800, 900 returned to foreign lands
and $4,000 had previously been in
America.
OF course, DR.. Baer said. there are
some cranks on the subject of immigra-
tion, and he related an incident which
happened in the large dining room at
Ellis island. He was talking with one
of "these cranks" about the evil which
many Americans believe the foreign in
vasion to be, when the man said: why
don't you puncture that distress numer-
ically?" DR.. Baer forthwith gave the
following statistics: For every fifty I'M
migrants who have come into the coun-
try this year lat have gone away. Up
to this time last year 10000 had come,
while up to this time this year $4,000
have come. Up to this time last year
$4,000 had left, and up to this time this
year 131, 900 have left.
i'm America comes nearer to being the
ideal citizen than any other foreigner.
He next drew a picture of the faithful,
dauntless laborer toiling in the cities
and in the mines.
Children Are Good Citizens
Though the peasant fresh from for
eign shores, may be flliterate. the
speaker said, his children are not, and
prove themselves to be among the
brightest pupils in our public schools.
He stated that the homeless arrival
at the eastern gateway finds a clean,
honest, safe welcome and that the inn
migration laws are being well enforced
by Robert Watchorn of Ellis island.
Stop immigration for one year, said
the speaker, and Industrial paralysis
will ensue He suggested that the gov
nnf fnrs0 a
nose of inspecting the immigrant to see
il he would make fit American citizen
before permitting him to cross the
ocean and squander his small hoard of
hard-earned wages,
Coming to the countrys western gate.
DR.. Baer said he considered the prob
lem here a large one, but added: who's
afraid?" His statement that he was
opposed to the Chinese exclusion law
as unamerican and unchristian was re-
ceived with hearty applause.
The speaker referred to the treaty
made in 1880 with China which ac-
corded her the same rights as were
given to other nations. but since 1882
America had been gradually closing on
China. He spoke of the enterprise of
the yellow people, who while our Amer
lean ancestors were clothed In skins
we're wearing silks and satins. To
them, he claims, are due several of the
most useful inventions. adding: "Give
the Chinese chance in Gods country
when submitted to American law
He spoke of the persistence and earn
estness of the Chinese student in the
large colleges and believes that advan-
tages should be accorded to those who
receive them so eagerly.
The strength of America, DR.. Baer
believes lies i'm it's combination of
races. and by receiving the right immi-
grants and bestowing upon them the
privileges of the public schools, the
,pen Bible and a knowledge of God the
country will always be what 1t is today,
The greatest of nations.