The Washington times., 1916-01-03
PLAN CAMPAIGN TO
CHECK IMMIGRATION
WOrkmen Unite, Fearing Foreign
Influx on Conclusion Of
H0StiIitieS.

NEW YORK. Jan. 3.-WorkinEmen the
country over. alarmed at the possibili-
ties OF unrestricted immigration which
the conclusion of the war may bring. are
mAssing their forces for united opposi-
ti6n to the hordes of European workers.
who. they say. will flock to this land of
promise when peace Is concluded.
In the distance the figure OF cheap
European labor. which has been tenn
porarllg held back by the hostilities
abroad to the great advantage of Amer
ican labor. looms forbidding and men
acinR il American ports remain as easy
OF access TO foreigners as the immigra-
ton laws now make them. The Ameri-
can workingman at present sees but
one obstacle to the threatened invasion.
namely. stricter immigration laws.
1t Is for that reason they have placed
their hope in John l.. Burnett Congress
man from Alabama and chairman of the
Congressional Committee on lmmigra-
tion and Naturalization. Cndaunted by
two previous defeats. Mr.. Burnett has
framed another and a stronger bill.
which, with the aid OF his cohorts. he
hopes to have passed I'm time to stem
the tides OF immigration that the end
of the war may bring.
Workers Endorse Measure.
In back Of Mr.. Burnett on this ques-
tion stand 100000 members OF the
Farmers Union and Alliance. 1000, 900
members OF the American Federation
OF Labor. 800, 900 United Mine Workers.
! a50.CGO members of the Junior Order
! than 100000 members of patriotic So
! cietieS.
| Mr.. Burnett presented his latest meas
/ tlrc for the restriction OF Immigration to
| the House on December 6. last. and il
was referred to the committee of which
| he is chairman. Since that time he has
conducted a campaign through New Eng
land. arouslnR sentiment for the bill, and
/ this month he comes to New York. where
| the opposition Is now crystallizing into
\ action. The measure will probably be
voted on early in February. and in the
meantime vigorous campaigns are being
1 waged.
First to take the field in this city Is
the Junior Order United American Me-
chanics, of which Mr., Burnett is a mem
| ber.
Vetoed By Wilson.
! Last year President Wilson vetoed
| the bill which Mr.. Burnett presented.
| yet so strong was the sentiment in its
] favor that four votes more and Congress
would have passed the measure over
the Presidents veto.
Several new features are introduced
into the bill just offered to Congress.
| IL the measure becomes a law every
alien setting foot on these shores, be-
ing otherwise acceptable, would have
to pay fee of S6. The measure would
keep out in addition to the imbeciles
lunotics. and others now excluded. all
anarchists, and all aliens over the age
of sixteen who cannot read the English
language or some other language OF
dialect, including Hebrew or Yiddish
There are also other features which
would greatly limit the influx of aliens.
Divergent Opinions Held.
Though the workingman sees nothing
but flight of persons Of other land
TO this country as an aftermath OF tn,
war, social workers who haYe studied
the question hold widely divergeu
views Frederick G. Howe, commission
er OF immigration at the port of New
York. in a recent article expressed tn
belief that millions IN Europe ma,
clamOr at the ports OF embarkation Il
hope OF new chance in a new world.
Charles w. Eliot, President Emeritus
OF Harvard. disagTees with him.
1.-THE immediate effect OF peace ma,
| possibly be a host of refugees fItn
Europe" he says but this result doe
not seem to me TO be probable.
moro probable result Is a strong de
mand for the labor of aole-bOdied re
in Europe to rebuild, recultivate an,
restore"
, 81 any rate. whatever the result, IN
: American Worhngman is preparing.