The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-19

all danger of an overwhelming Asiatc immigration while receiving all who want to come from northwestern Europe This could be accomplished through a. policy or regulating immigration according to the rate of assimiation-allowinga a max imum immigration from any land of a certain fixed percentage. not of those rom that land who already here but of those who have come and have become naturallzed.
 The valid principle for such a law would be the fact that newcomers enter ana become assimiiated to our life chief ly through the agency of those who have come and htted acceptably into our na- tional life. These know the languages customs and ideals of both nations. Con- sequently. the larger the number already assimlated the larger the number of those who can be wisely admitted each year. l suggest. therefore, that the max mum number of immigrants in a single year from any single mother tongue group shall be per cent of those from that land already naturalized American cit- zens, including their American born ehil- dren.
 Applied to Germany this would admit as many as i05.O00 immigrants. whereas only 2l1SS entered in 1912. From Great Britain 363,5oO might enter whereas s2.a7y came Tn that year. Russian immigration would be diminished from 162, ,395 in 1912 10 possible maximum of 94,O00 while im- migrants from Italy would fall from 157- la4 to 54'S5o From Japan 22O immigrants would be admitted and from China 7sS. These figures refer, of course, to new corners. The per cent rate should not be applied 10 travellers and students nor to immediate relatives.
 Federal provision should also be made Tor assimilation of immigrants. They should be registered They should pay a ett thSf fi.I a,A educational bureau should set standards and provide for examinations. the educa- ton being carried on by local organiza- tons. Graduation and good behavior should be essential to naturalization. A federal bureau should have charge of nat uralization. The oath of allegiance should be taken on single day throughout the country, on. the Fourth of July. with well come speeches and responses. processions, banners and badges. The event should be made significant and impressive. It would make citizenship count.
 Race of itself alone should be neither qualification nor disqualification for citizenship. American citizenship should rest on character and education. Legs- iation is urgently needed to enable the federal government to administer effect ively It's treaty obligations. Aliens are guests of the nation and rely on the fed eral government for personal protection and for the various rights and priv ileges granted by treaties. These should not be dependent on the ignorance or prej- udfce of unfriendly localities. That Amer lean children may acquire a right atti- tude to Asatics, Oriental history should be introduced Into the schools, teaching the noble deeds and achievements Of Chinese and Japanese and Hindoes.
 Such a policy us this would fulhl all requirements on both sides of the Pacific It would conserve the interests of Ameri- ca and be in harmony with the dignity of Japan and China. It would prevent swamping immigration. yet by the appli- cation of these principles Asiatics would recognize that justice had been done and would feel in no wise humilated. Friend- ship between America and Asia would he maintained with all it's advantages Both yellow and white perils would be- come void.