The Raymer enterprise., 1916-07-20


provided with material to make clothes for them
selves and children. school has been temporarily
opened 10 teach the children, and the New York
city public library authorities have donated q num-
Der Of books printed In German and other foreign
languages for the use of those who have desire
to read
The men and women are permitted 10 mingle
freely In the various detention wards. and as
a result Of these innovations the feeling which
prevails among those who have been long detained
at the station is more cheerful than 1t was during
the first few months OF the war. Attempts to es-
cape. which were frequent at one time, have come
to nm end.
ELLIS island is the greatest portal in the world"
said Doctor Howe. There never has been any por-
tai like II for human beings. In normal times near
ly million persons enter the country through II
each year. They come largely from countries
where the government means only militarism and
taxes; they come to escape the feudal landlord.
from Industrial and social conditions which have
become intolerabe. 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. ID
effect II not In so many words. said that America
welcomed those who did not fall within the excud-
ed classes, those afflicted by disease or who are
likely to become charge upon the community. 1t
held out an invitation to the strong and able
bodied to come and share In the making of a new
nation free from abuses and expressions Of the old
world.
And Of those who come over 9S per cent are
admitted The rest are rejected because they fall
within the Inhibited classes. And II seemed TO me
when 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
be those Of kindness. assistance and courtesy They
come for the most part with fear In their hearts;
they fear government rather than love It, And
their instinct is to expect something very like what
they received at home
First impressions are lasting and II has been
our effort at Ellis island to make these impressions
as democratic as possible. and to aid in as many
ways as We could In protecting the immigrant 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 one at the Barge Office. at South
Ferry and the other at 240 East Seventy ninth
street. to which the immigrant can go and procure
aid. assistance and advice about matters that con.
eern him. Through these Offices he Is directed to
schools and to the naturalization Offices The Off
ees cooperate with the police department and with
all the many agencies in New York which nave
been created to aid the immigrant. AT these Offices
there are employment agencies which find work
Ton aeA at at,,
them TO farming positions to relieve the congestion
In the cities
similar protection has been accorded the alien
in transit to the West In securing the best trans
portation facilities and otherwise relieving the i'm.
migrant from the dangers which beset him while
reaching his ultimate destination.
war conditions brought probably 500 men.
women and children to Ellis island who for some
or other had TO go back to their native and
they were not admissible to the country. Each of
these cases 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 some person willing to be re-
sponsible for them Positions have been found for
hundreds, from whom periodic reports are 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 are now earn.
ing very substantial salaries
"Similar efforts are being made to promote edu.
cational advantages for the adult immlgrant-to
encourage night schools. For the last year the
names Of all children of school age have been
copied and sent to the superintendents of etuca.
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 goy-
ernment comes In immediate contact with the sec.
ond generation Of immigrants and begins its as.
similation process as soon as they reach thi,
country"