The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-16
SECRE ETARY
NAGEL FOR
HUMANITY
Defends Policy Of Ignoring Lei.
tar Of immigration Law
as Theory Test

Washington, Mar. 15- Secretary of
Commerce & Labor Nagel is saIishen
20 stand upon the record he IS max
ing il the Interpretation OF the lmml
grafton laws and to give a test to|
Ihs theories While he is aware that
his acts are bringing upon MIN some
criticism, he expects experience 10
yindicate him and he believes time
win prove that the spirit rather than
lti 8 letter of the law should be en-
forced in immigration cases
n am no sentimentalist-at least
hope / am not, said Secretary Nag
ei today ia discussing the matter
| 4My greatest desire is to impress
upon my STAFF Of inspectors some
thing OF the wise, discretionary prin'
ciples with which ! want to see fhls
great work performed.
III is no Office, | tell them over
and over again, for the perfunctory
I and slereOtyped reading OF q cold
] letter OF the slaw, and I am glad TO
sav there Is aceumulatiag evidence
ltraF this hardest OF all tasks Is beinS
performed by the inspectors OF the
4 immigration service with more OF the
element OF the heart and us symna-
4 thetic dictation than rigid ana I'M
devia Ing compliance with a drastic
law
Says TAFT Approves Aims
"Piesident Taft knows Of our AIMS
and In general approves Of them
Since his visit TO Ellis Island Ne
knows our needs and the difficulty
Of our task. MI
III was close personal contact with
suffering that first strongly impelled
ME to try TO settle upon broad lio
eral and humane plan OF dealing with
cases OF deportation.
Immigration cases must be pass
ga upon at once. An accumulation
of even one week would fill Ellis Is
land, with lis miseratiy scant accom-
. nodatons, to overflowing. II It were
possible for us to take single 1ase
and hold il under adyisement for
lperiod of six months we, too, might
!, Ie wise in ali our decisions.
"But man who daily faces tha'
record Of human woe, OF hcartaeae
+, of misery and sometimes OF bru ality
rises. If he rises at all, to heights o
earnest desire to ameliorate the con
n ditions OF human suffering with al
n Intensity that is unknown TO thos'
/, who make swee mouthfuls Of soela
. Eeuerment, and inbred phrases II
feeble attempts to help without per
! eciylng tho cause.
I "But the sights we see at Ellis Is
q land and the aspects Of lie whlc'
y hat great concourse OF all nations
5 presents in the way Of pathos, mis-
l. cry, tragedy and the agony Of despal
/. Kipllng could not describe no artis
/ can paint, and those who are safe
guarded in the comfort and proteC
ton OF home and friends can bu
very impenectly realize
callo Criticism Unjust
I'VE suffer criticism from time 7
D time in directions and to degrees tina
d are wholly undeseryed. My great rt
It greet is that the conditions are no
q fully understood Our men are q
D. ten described as being eoldhearte
Y iu the discharge Of their duties, bu
s We know differently.
a while no man can safely wear N
= heart On his sleeve, the innumerab!
y cases where inspectors go far out
H. their way to make admission poss
e Bile, to be blind to unimportant facts
TO be deaf to some answers, to max
up deficiencies by subscriptions, an
Y similar discretionary discharges q
kindly Offices all these serve
prove beyond a shadow OF doul
= that a spirit Of tender he artednes
prevades the service and that the dl
j pensation OF justice is well tempere
q with mercy.
4 II have no desire to let down II
q bars or to permit laXity that wi
Il defeat the admirable and neeessal
u precautions that are taken by y
q snirit Of the law to keep out undesi
Il ahles. Ii is the spirit of The la'
N rather then the letter that we try
" Keen before It's all the time