New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-26
: Commissioner Williams Acts as
Guide to President-EIeCt
at Ellis Island.
CASTRO is DISAPPOINTED
Jersey Governor Listens with
Interest to Proceedings in
Court of Last Resort" -
Scenes in OBTAINING Pen.


sioner William Williams as a guide
The trip had been arranged by Mrs.
Caroline r. Alexander, of Hoboken. whose
guests the Governor and his family were
last night, and Mr.. Wilson took his visit
10 the island with the seriousness of a
schoolmaster. familiarizing himself with
every detail OF each department visited
before he left ii.
II was Mr.. Wilson's first visit to Ellis
Island, He had written many books on
the freedom of this country and had made
many speeches on the subject, but he
never knew how really hard 1t was to get
within our borders until he watched the
inspectors of the government put the .m-
migrants Of many nations through a
course of questioning and examination
which seemed TO emphasize to him the
care and discrimination with which the
immigrants entrance into this country is
guarded.
Heard immigrants Appeals.
The President-elect also sat with Mr..
Williams in the court of last resort for
the immigrant desiring TO get into the
country. 1t is court to which the immi-
grant who has been ordered deported by
the board of inquiry can appeal, at which
MIR. Williams represents the Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor, who has the final
say on the question of entrance into
America for the immigrant.
Seven cases were brought before Com
missioner Williams, with the President
elect sitting at his side behind the big.
broad table. One of them was that of a
white slave" procurer, and another was
that Of an Italian woman with four chill
dren, who was willing that one of them,
an imbecile, should be returned TO Italy
in charge of a stranger, so long as she
and the rest of her progeny were allowed
10 enter our gates.
1T was decidedly interesting" said the
President-elect In talking Of his visit
Did you enjoy your VISIT he was
asked.
II did not come here to enjoy myself"
he responded. II just took day off and
came here 10 get information. and l was
exceedingly interested in everything that
/ saw
At one time the next President stood
within six feet Of the ex-President OF
Venezuela, Cipriano Castro, but neither
the ex-President nor the future President
knew of the nearness of the other. For
several minutes Mr.. Wilson stood in front
of the room where Castro is prisoner,
conversing with the immigration officials.
Castro learned early in the morning that
Governor Wilson was TO visit the island,
and he told some of the officials that he
expected the purpose of Mr.. Wilson's visit
was to set him free. After the visiting
80. t1,a A..f1A in lob rap
tro is quartered be was told of Mr.. Will
sons visit, and he was bitterly disap-
pointed because he had not been allowed
to shake the hand Of the next President
and tell him something about his case.
When he first arrived at Ellis Island Cas-
tro said 'Tf Wilson was President instead
OF Taft would be permitted to land"
Mr. Wilson said he did not know Castro
was there.
The President-elect. with Mrs Wilson.
the Misses Jessie r. and Eleanor r. Will
son and party consisting of Mrs. Alex
ander, Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas Robinson,
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Colby, Mrs. James
3. Hartman, Mrs. Grant La Fargo Miss
Williams. sister Of the Immigration Com
missioner; William Straight, Professor
Royal Meeker. Mayor II. Otto Wittpenn
OF Jersey City and the Rev. T. A. Con-
over, OF Bernardsville, left the Barge
ONCE in the tug Immigrant at 1915
o'clock.
T. Percy Baker, superintendent OF Ellis
Island. was In charge of the party, and
when IL arrived at the island Commits
sioner Williams was waiting for it. Miss
Sva 20 hav hao
but an attack of tonsillitis kept her away.
At Physioians' Examinations.
The primary inspection department was
the fret one to which the President elect
was taken. and for ten minutes he
watched physicians examine the immi-
grants as to their mentality and their
eyes for traces Of trachoma.
Commissioner Williams explained the
workings Of the department to the Presi-
dent-elect pointing out that those sent
into the pens on the side Of the room
would be held for further examination.
The clearing room was the next place
inspected. and the President elect nodded
approvingiy as two husky Servians bound
for one Of the Western states were
passed through. even though their world
" possessions consisted only of rail-
road ticket and s. each.
A stop of ten minutes was made in the
room where the board of inquiry was sit
ting. The case Of an Austrian Jew
named Zimmerman was up. and after
the board had decided on his deporta-
ton, because. as Mr.. Williams explained
he had no relatives or friends compare
lively little money and frail physique,
which made the board fear he would be-
come a public charge. Mr.. Wilson lis
tened intently as the interpreter explained
telling him that he could appeal to the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor II he
chose.
A glance at the mess hall for detained
immigrants was followed by view of a
hundred or 80 of those who had been or
dered deported as they marched in for
their noon meal. All nationalities were
in this line, including solitary China
man. Tears came TO the eyes of some of
the women Of the party as they saw
frail youths showing unmstakable traces
Of tuberculosis only 60 be replaced a mo-
inent or two later by shudder as q
swarthy immigrant, with SCARED face
and an unmistakable look Of viciousness
in his eyes, passed along.
Only the President-elect, Mrs. Wilson,
the Misses Wilson and Mrs. Colby were
admitted to the court of last resort" for
the Immigrants, the next place visited
Seven cases In all were brought up, and