The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-24

MENACES AS
!. ALIENSLEAVE
thousands of Foreigners in
Rush to Get Passports to Re-
turn to Native Lands.
BY BILL PRICE.

by DILL
Twenty RoUmanian laborers, in
Washington for several days, well
supplied with money and trying to
get passports TO return to their ma
tive land, illustrate the startling
movement of aliens back to their
home countries, a movement which
promises to deplete labor in this
country to a dangerous point before
It is ended.
According to the Department of
labor, which has made careful in
vestigation all over the United States,
100000 aliens wish to leave this
country at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and they will carry back with
them an average of $4,000 each. or
approximately $4,000, goo, 600. There
is considerable unrest among those
wanting to return over inability to
get passports and transportation as
fast as desired, and steamships leav-
ing New York and elsewhere for
southern Europe are booked far in
advance, and every one sailing Is
crowded to the guards.
The Rumanians who came to Wash
ington are here because they claim to
have been delayed in their efforts to
obtain passports, which are ordinarily
granted in New York by the counsels
OF foreign governments, with permits
to leave issued by immigration in
spectors acting as agents Of the State
Department
At Mercy of FakIrS.
The Rumanians make charges that
they were advised that they could OBJ
tain passports if they were willing
TO pay $50 to 800 to certain persons
in New York. They talk so little Eng
lish II Is difficult to obtain from them
details sufficient to locate these per
sons The party went from Ohio to
New York. Some hitch there brought
sthem to Washington, and there ap
pear to be more bitches in the way
here, judging by their manner Of dis
cUssion. They are not getting salts
factory results in this city and one Of
their number this morning said il was
a shame that poor workingmen should
have to lose so much time and money.
State Department officials in
Washington have an idea that rep
resentatiVes of foreign government
who are up against this almost fren-
zied rush to return to Europe are
trying to check the rush because of
the unpreparedness OF foreign lands
to receive additions to their popula-
ton. RoUmania is a sample Of all
these countries. Conditions there are
greatly disturbed, food is scarce and
high, transportation is poor. The
bulk of the more than 100000 men
who are going back are residents OF
South Europe-Serbia Greece, Ru-
mania, Hungary, Austria, Italy and
the Slovak countries. Poles and Rus
SLAMS in laTge numbers also wish to
ing in industrial Centers mainly,
with many OF them on farms.
ROumanian Pastor Here.
Rev. Auriel Reu.the pastor Of the
-Roumanian Church at Akrsn. Ohio.
Ncame to this city with his fellow
countrymen in search for passports
He said that there are 2OO. 600 Rouma-
mans in the United States and that
1000 Of them are trying 10 arrange
to return. He explained that most OF
them are married, that the war sep
arated them from their families for
wears, and that il is but natural for
them to desire 20 gel back TO their
lives, children, fathers, mothers and
,tber relatives They have saved
money and want their loved ones 10
nae some OF the benefits il viii give. /
Practically the same state Of af
Isirs exists among other aliens. There
are a number Of Greeks IN Washington, /
Tor instance. now making preparation !
% return One Of them. the proprie- /
tor af sshoe shine shop near the Ma /
;ional Theater. has not seen his fam I
ily during the years OF war. He has I
made money and wants 10 get back I.
The State Department has foreign 1
hermit office AZ 1923 New York avenue /,
N charge Of Edwin :. Fuller This /.
office does not issue passports. These 4
must be issued b. the ministers or /
consuls OF the European countries /
m the United States. Some OF these /
establishments are badly disorGaniz- /
Cd. After passports are issued the |
holders must obtain permits from i'm |
migration inspectors. acting for the I
.,ernit office. 10 sail
The Effect On Industries.
The effect Of all this emigration 1
upon industrial and business condi- /
lions IN the United States is giving /
Government officials concern. Indus |
try and business have revived 50 /
swiftly that there is now compare /
lively little unemployment, with in |
creasing demands for skilled and I'M /
skilled Workmen, especially the lat |
ter. whose departure from coal |
mines, steel plants and manufactur- |
ing concerns everywhere will be felt. |
The emigration must necessarily be |
somewhat slow, however, owing 10 /
steamship shortage and transporta- |
ton difficulties at southern European |
ports after arrival there.