Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-10-19
Mr.. TAFT SEES
Immigrants
ENTERING
PRESIDENT A VISITOR
AT RECEIVING STATION
Many Aliens at Ellis Island
Made Happy By Executive
Interferencei Three Rules Are
Suggested.

OuSSOOlOQi
IBy Morning journal Special Leased wirel
+ New York, oct 1S.-President
Taft had his first view today % that
wonderful piece of machinery on
Ellis Island, where the aliens Of
many countries undergo their first
gruelling on the road to American
citizenship.
During his investigation the pres-
dent sat with Immigration Commits
sioner Williams in a number of APP
pealed causes. Mr.. Taft proved
lenient judge and it was indeed a
happy fate which brought nearly a
score of rejected immigrants to the
bar for final decision on the day of
the presidents visit. There were
Slavs, Poles, Greeks and Italians. but
the most interesting case was that of
Welsh miner and his family of
seven motherless children. The presi
dent personally directed that the
family be admitted and he declared
ifiiL II lt was dl ali q Jhh6f VI iAu
man nature the seven children would
grow into the best type of citizens.
As result of his studies and observa-
ton today, Mr. Taft had reached to-
night a pretty definite conclusion on
three points:
First, he believes that a strong ef-
fort should be made to distribute the
influx Of foreigners and do away
with the present congrestion in New
York.
Second, he believes that heavier
penalties should be eXacted OF the
steamship companies for infractions
of the immigration rules.
Third, he believes that all male i'm
migrants upon their arrival here
should be put through a thorough
examination, as to the condition Of
families left behind in Europe. one
of the most difficult problems Of the
immigration service has been the sep
aration of families but the president
believes that the problem can be
solved by requiring immigrants to tell
in advance whether families left be-
hind are eligible for admission under
the immigration laws.
one of the first cases brought be-
fore the president on appeal today
was that of an Italian woman and
four children. The husband had al
ready arrived in this country. There
was some question whether he could
earn enough to support the family
The man declared he could and the
president took the same view. The
wife and children were admitted.
Some aliens suffering from flatfoot
were fortunate in being brought be-
fore the president. He declared that
while flatfoot interfered with a num-
ber of occupations, it was possible for
persons so afflicted to follow many
useful trades The flatfoot immi- |
grants went ioyously on their way to
New York
When George Thornton the Welsh |
miner and his seven children were |
called before Commissioner Williams |
and President Taft there was much |
excitement through the station. All |
the under officials there had taken an !
interest in the miner and although he |
had been disqualified under physi- |
cal examination, they still hoped that |
he might be admitted. His wife died |
last August and he had decided to |
quit Wales and come to this country |
to seek a new start I'm life.
President Taft took a hand in ques-
tioning the miner and brought out |
that the man had a sister, Mrs. Sarah |
webb. in Pittsburg. 1t was decided
to let the miner in.
The Thornton children range In
age from two nineteen years. He got
a ticket for himself and then through
to Pittsburg and the party left in
happy mood. When the president
asked him what funds he had, Thorn
ton replied:
zone hundred and sixty-five dollars
and two hands"
While the president was examining
Thornton he asked the immigrant il
he knew who the president of the
United States was, the man promptly
replying President Taft" and did not
seem a bit excited when the commits
sioner informed him that the gentle
nan with whom he was talking was
he president himself Thornton
bowed politely to the executive to in
iicate his pleasure at meeting him.