The Washington herald., 1909-01-17
d IoHN $. HARDWOOD.

through their own efforts. some have
been miners, some farmers. while others
have painted signs. chopped weed. sold
dry goods, and broken stones for a liv-
ing. One member OF Congress for a tine
was an actor.
In the appointment Of Oscar Straus
as Secretary OF Commerce and Labor,
and OF Robert Watchorn as immigration
Commissioner at Ellis Island, the worth
OF the foreign-born official has been
doubly recognized Mr.. Straus is a Jew,
as well as OF European birth, thus being
akin 20 8 large proportion Of those pros
pectiye Americans over whom his de-
Partment has supervision
Robert Watchorn. who is stationed at
the main immigration gateway OF the
New World, was himself an immigrant.
He arrived in New York IN as humble
circumstances as many OF the vast
throngs upon whom he now sits in judg-
ment.
Like the great bulk Of aliens who seek
their fortunes ia America, young Watch
orn was willing 20 begin at the very
bottom And no wonder. He had al
ways been az the bottom OF a mine shaft
before thinking that America might Of
fer greater opportunities. His parents
were honest Eard-wOrking people Of TIE
mining country OF Derbyshire When
only eleven. Robert went 10 work with
his father far below the surface Of the
earth Beginning as a trapper boy, he
had the job OF opening and shutting the
venuiaung doors OF the mine. At six
teen he had charge Of all the ponies that
hauled out the coal. and he says there
was a good many Of them. too. BY the
time he was eighteen he had become q
full-fedged miner
Attended Sisht school.
Bob" Watchorn was not satisfied with
this life. however. He attended night
school. where he found opportunity TO
learn Of the fame Of Washington. Lafay-
cite, Jefferson and many Of the other
great men who made American history.
He decided that the New World offered
more chances than the Old So Bob"
saved up his pennies until ne had enough
20 buy ticket 70 New York.
The night before the boat was 70 sail
young WatchOrn met Mr.. Bone, who
had taken the greatest interest in the
night school where the pit lads" at
tended Mr. Bone told the boy he would
make a great mistake in leaving Eng
lanA
IF there's any climb in you. said
Bone. tyou can climb at home. If you
viii consent 10 study in England for the
profession Of a mining engineer I viii
advance the money.
The youthful miner thanked the rich 4
lawyer. adding. however, that he had set I
his heart on America
Ny boy said Mr.. Bone. how much 4
money have you for your jouTney?
Twelve shiilings, sir, besides my 4
ticket"
Indignantly declaring il prepOsterOUs TO ?
start out almost a paUper, the lawyer
thrust 80 into the boys pocket and /.
walked away.
Arriving IL New York the future In 4
migration Commissioner, having been /
half starved in the steerage. hurried for
q nearby pie counter, where he vas I
initiated Immediately into American Gus
toms in more ways than he had ex-
pected- He gave 1he pieman a two
shilling piece, O3lIy 10 be told there was
10 change. The vender Of pastry in :
sisted he had received only five cents, .
following up the statement with a blow 4
Watchorn's arms, hardened by long /
labor. landed the pie man on his back 4
The two-shiIIiLg piece was found in the Z
cash drawer and WatchOrn got his
change
Began work in Mine
From a New York lodging house the
youthful immigrant went 20 work in an
Ohio mine at s. a day. Finding that he
would have 10 wait several months for
his wages. he left Jeddo Run for a Penn
sylvania coal mine at "a wage OF so a
month Every month he sent his savings
20 his mother. and soon was able 10 bring
her and al the rest 81 the Watchorn
family 10 America
AHying himself with the union labor
movement. he soon became honored with
positions Of trust He finally was made
president Of the miners union Of the
PittsbUrg district On entering the i'm
migration service in 1SS2, he was promoted
seven times He spent several years in
Europe Canada, and Mexico. where he
studied and helped 10 perfect the system
Of regulating immigration 10 the United
States. In 1915 he was appointed TO his
present position at Ellis Island. where he
has made radical Improvements. The ca
paoity OF the island practically has been
doubled as a result
Ike M StraUs. is q foreign-born mem ]
her Of President ROosevelts Cabinet As {
II foTeSeeing his future Office. he became !
a farmer on coming 20 this country at the
age Of seventeen from Scotland. II may
he said. therefore. that he has worked
from the ground up.
Many Adopted sons in Congress.
Foreign-5orn members Of Congress form
q much greater proportion Of the national
legislature to-day than a decade ago. In
the Upper House may be mentioned Sen
ator George Sutherland. OF Utah. who
was born in Buckinghamshire. England:
Senator KRUte Nelson. Of Minnesota. a
native Of Norway. and Senator J H Cal
iinger; Of New Hampshire, a Canadian by
birth. C
Although not a Mormon. Senator Suth-
erland IS considered a strong supporter
Of the AiorTnOns. He is a son-in-laW Of 7
John D. Lee. the DANTE chief, who was q
executed by the government for having :
directed the Mountain Meadows massacre s
A oand Of MoTmOns met a band Of peace /,
Iul ernigrants passing through Utah, and.
having assured them Of safety. asked
them 70 lay down their arms There
upon the MoTmons fell upon the men,
women and children and killed them Lee {
was convicted in the late '7Gs, some :
t~enty years after the crime occurred. =
Aitaough tbs massacre was perpet7ated :
before the birth Of Sutherland. and he
always has spoken Of It as a great blot I
on the record Of the Mormon Church. Vet Z
Il oiten has been recalled BY those VINO
rrlticlse Sutherland's friendship 10 the h
-9ormon cause. When he entered the
Cnited States Senate Il was said that the
n his election had protested
2 asalnst their political overthrow Suther-
anG Sacceeced Thomas Kearns. VINO re- T
fused 70 be bossed by the Normons. r
Sutnerlands colleague IN the Senate.