Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-28
IMMIGRATION FIAscoEs.
ISioux City Journal


Isn't it about time for the New
York immigration authorities to let
up on their strained Interpretation Of
the immigration laws? Within the
last year the immigration bureau has
been made ridiculous in four con-
spicuous fiascoes. That ought TO De
enough TO indicate that the Russian
form OF procedure Is not going to be
permanent in this country.
Former President Castro, Of Vene-
zuela, presented himself at the port
Of New York as a traveller. No doubt
it was his purpose to engage in con-
terences relative to the revolution
that was later started in Venezuela.
Whatever his purpose. 1t was none OF
our business soilong as he violated
none Of our laws. Evidently under
orders from higher up, the immigra-
ticn officers halted Castro as an immi-
grant trumped up against him a
charge held to involve moral turpi.
tude and would have deported n!El
If American sympathizers had not
taken his case into the federal courts.
where his right to admission vas
easily proved.
There there was the case OF Myths,
the English journalist who had been
convicted OF libeling the king. My
Illus wanted to come to this country to
stay, but the immigration authorities
decided to turn him back on the
ground that the offense of which he
was convicted in England involved
moral turpitude. Myths was able to
demonstrate to the satisfaction OF
courts and public alike that his Of
tense was political in nature and did
iv,1y
Then there was the case of Marie
Lloyd, the vaudeville artist who came
over to fill an engagement on the
American circuit, travelling informally
with masculine companion who
bore no legal relationship to her. The
| immigration bureau let the over
| worked moral turpitude alone niis
| time. but undertook to apply the
white slave" law to prevent the ad-
| mittance Of the singer for the few
Weeks necessary to fill her engage
| ments. The judgment Of the busy
| immigration authorities was that Miss
Lloyd could not be allowed to breathe
our pure air for few weeks, and she
was ordered deported. The depart
! ment saved itself a reversal in court
by ltaer admitting the singer uncel
bond to leave the country after COM
pleting her professional engagements.
The recent spasmodic effort to keep
| Mrs. Pankhurst out on account OF
alleged moral turpitude is the mos
| glazing fiasco of the series.
There is an element of vaguenesl
in the clause Of the immigration la~'
| providing for the exclusion Of per.
sons convicted abroad of crimes in.
| voiviis moral turpitude. Nobody car
define accurately just what moral tur.
| pitude means. But the intent Of the
clause Is quite plain. 1t was intended
to enable us to exclude would-be i'm
migrants who have records indicating
that If admitted to this country they
would make business for our courts
| and prisons. Such persons are consid-
cred undesirable citizens, and it II
proposed to avoid future trouble By
keeping them out. The object IL
making this regulation was economic
the same motive that dictated the ex-
clusion OF diseased, insane and indi.
gent Immigrants. The regulations wa,
to be applied only to prospective citi-
Gems and there was 10 intention u
use 1t TO set q standard of moralit,
for travellers or temporary sojourneIE
| The white slave law. as its name i'm
plies. was specifically intended t
prevent the importation OF women II
connection with commercialized vice