The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-22

women have been given instruction IN sewing ana
provided with material to make clothes for them
selves and children. school has been temporarily
opened to teach the children. and the New York
city public library authorities have donated num-
Der of books printed in German and other foreign
languages for the of those who have desire
to read.
The men and women are permitted to mingle
more freely in the various detention wards, and
a result of these innovations the feeling which
prevails among those who have been long detained
the station is more cheerful than it was during
the first few months of the Attempts to es-
cape, which frequent at time. have come
to end.
Ellis island is the greatest portal In the world
said Doctor Howe. There never has been any pOr-
tai like it for human beings. In normal times
~ million persons enter the country through II
each year. They come largely from countries
where the government means only mlitarism and
taxes; they come to escape the feudal landlord
from industrial and social conditions which have
become intOerable- They come with hopes Of
fresh life, of fresh chance. of opportunities for
themselves and their children. They carry with
them the visions of America which have been in
delibly printed upon their minds from the letters
which have gone back to Europe from friends and
relatives already in this country
"And the immigration laws of America have in
effect. if not in many words, said that America
welcomed those who did not fall within the exclud
ed classes those afflicted by disease or who are
likely to become a charge upon the community 1t
held out invitation to the strong and able
bodied come and share In the making OF new
nation free from abuses and expressions Of the old
world.
And, of those who 9S per cent are
admitted. The rest are rejected because they fan
within the inhibited classes. And it seemed TO me
when 1 became commissioner of immigration that
the first contact of the alien with America should
be one that would impress upon his mind the thing
for which America stands; that the treatment they
should receive, the experiences they should pass
through and the contact they had with officials
wearing the uniform Of the United States should
come for the most part with fear in their hearts;
they fear government rather than love it And
their instinct is expect something very like what
they received at home.
First impressions lasting. and ii has been
effort Ellis island to make these impressions
democratic possible, and to aid in many
ways could in protecting the immig grant and
assisting him TO his final destination. For the i'm
migrant is imposed on he is exploited. To prevent
this as much as possible offices have been opened
in New York city, the Barge Office at South
Ferry, and the other at $40 East Seventy-nnth
street to which the immigrant go and procure
aid. assistance and advice about matters that con-
Germ him. Through these offices he is directed to
schools and to the naturalization Offices. The Off
cooperate with the police department and with
all the many agencies in New York which have
been created aid the Immigrant At these Offices
there employment agencies which find work
for men and women and which aim to distribute
them farming positions relieve the congestion
in the cities.
in transit TO the West in securing the best trans
portation facilities otherwise relieving the
migrant from the dangers which beset him while
reaching his ultimate destination
WAR conditions brought probably 500 men.
and children to Ellis Island who for some
reason other had to go back to their native land ;
they were not admissible to the country. Each Of
these has been investigated personally their
friends and relatives have been looked up. and in
the great majority of cases they have been ad-
mitted on bond to person willing TO be re-
spOnsible for them. Positions have been found for
hundreds. from whom periodic reports required
as to how they getting along. Only in very rare
cases have they failed to make good. In many
instances they have risen rapidly and earn
ing very substantial salaries.
Similar efforts being made to promote edu-
cational advantages for the adult inmigrant-to
encourage night schools. For the last year the
names OF all children Of school age have been
copied and sent to the superintendent OF educa-
ton all over the country in order that they might
Immediately place children in school upon their ar
rival at their destination. By these means the GOV
eminent comes in immediate contact with the sec
Ond generation Of immigrants and begins its as
simiIation process soon as they reach this
country