New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Importing Bolsheuiks
% the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir If from the meeting at Madison
Square Garden on November rs there had
been eliminated the foreign born the au-
dience would have been meagre, and if in
addition there had been eliminated those
whose parents were foreign born there
would have been no meeting
Our troops in Russia are fighting the
cutthroats who were lauded by that as
semblage. Our country would be the bet
ter if the crowd could have been shipped
at once to Russia to enjoy the privileges
which they seem to covet.
The event brings again into prominence
the subject of immigration, which is one
degree dryer than the subject of taxation
Under certain circumstances, however,
both subjects become matters of interest,
and to-day they are both likely to find
ready readers.
Will you permit me to quote somewhat
at length from an article by Professor
Ward, of Harvard:
There is widespread anxiety concerning
the dumping of cheap European goods on
markets after the war is over. Of in
tinitely greater Importance is the dump
ing of cheap European labor upon our
shores after the war is over. Goods from
abroad concern pocketbooks only. Human
beings from abroad enter into our national
life. They contribute to the blood of the
future American people. They determine
what race is to be. 1t is the cargoes
of men, and women, and children, not the
cargoes Of goods, that are the real prob
"War has, temporarily at least, dimin-
ished some of the pressure upon our in
situations. 1t has enabled US to do better
work for those who are already here. With
the pressure which comes from the usual
enormous inflow of aliens somewhat re-
lieved, all our problems of public and pr-
vate philanthropy have been immensely
simplihed. Our financial burdens have
been lightened. We have, for the time
being, had a little breathing space. What
a feeling of relief all of US would expe-
rence if could be sure that no more in
sane, or feeble minded, diseased, or
physically defective aliens would ever
again be allowed to land at our ports
How cheerfully and how hopefully we could
of the defective classes already in our
midst and waiting to be born of those who
now here.
"The last report of the New York Chill
dren's Aid Society has very clearly pointed
out the good that has resulted in its work
from the temporary reduction in the num-
bers of immigrants. we encouraged
in our fight against inefficiency and gno-
rance it said because we feel that the
immigrants really being educated
through their children. If the uplift forces
in New York could count on a continuance
of the present blockade of immigration
the worst of the evils of poverty could UNI
doubtedly be ended in few years."
By way of immigration we have added to
our population even in war time-in the
year 1917-over 100000 Just before the
war the addition to the population was in
excess Of 100000. And approximately so
per cent of this enormous mass settled in
the four states of Illinois, Massachusetts,
New York and Pennsylvania
A recent enactment by Congress has
made their entrance somewhat more diff
cult. We shall need additional legislation
by Congress, and it behooves us to attend
to the matter before peace is signed.
1t is much to be desired that those who
are interested in the subject shall connec,
themselves with the immigration Restric-
ton League, II Pemberton Square, Boston.
Mass. Annual dues, 81. Or with the
American Defence Society. A East Twenty
third Street, New York City. Annual
dues, 81. CHARLES f. MANIERRE.
New York, Nov. 30, 1918