The Denver Jewish news., 1919-01-29
Americas Post War
immigration Policy
NEW POLICIES BEING CONSID-
Erred OF THIS IMPORTANT
PROBLEM by OUR LEGISLA-
TORS.

TORS.
Jas. l.. Topper, special correspondence.
One of the things thar kecnly inter-
cStS the jew, and other immigrant
populations in the United States. iS the
maintenance of the traditional liberal
immigration policy. America has al
ways bOaStcd OF holding herself OUT as
the asylum for the oppressed and down
trOdhcn. and the question will soon he
SIuarcly presented if it must he m
nOunclr To the world that she no
longer will he, the haven of refuge for
the suffering and oppressed.
Much speculation was INDUCED in
during the war of its effect ON immi-
grafton There were sufficient argu-
nentS. pro and con. Many argued that
III" war will have created such short
age in labor that Europe will not only
absorb all of il in lis reconstruction
period but may even draw on the
American labor supply. and thus. for
the first time in history. we would see
emigration on II large scale rather than
immigration. That contention has not
been disprovcd vet. nor can it he dis
proved. except 10y the conjecture that
Europe will he prevented from settling
down I" Il state Of peace and order hy
Il series of internal revolutions or civil
wars.
Nevertheless. immigration rcstric-
tinnt-t- al
in the summer 10 bar immigration alb
solutcly and completely. 1t should he
observed that the auti-immigra i0niSts
now have the cooperation of IA very
powerful ally. Hitherto labor was al
most isolated in its selfish and blind
policy as the hulwark of the agitation
against immigration for futile hut
obvious reasons. Like the craftsmen
of old who opposed the advent of the
steam engine. and many other mven-
tions which reduced labor and lighten-
I ed their burdens. on the theory tlat
such inventions take their Jobs away.
so these labor leaders, of today would
arrest the country'S growth and de-
velopment. and the augmentation Of
the country's wealth. because. for
Sooth. their jobs may he taken away
from them by the newcomers.
Capital. however. was either neutral
or opposed to this agitation. so that. iE
its erroneous view. immigration should
glut the labor market. But now cap
itnl too is aligned on the side of those
who would keep the immigrant ont.
NOT. of course. for the same reasons
as labor. hut for causes in their judg-
mcnt equally patent. They are panicky
lest RolShrvism ovcrtakc them here in
Americn. which. they are told. is pure
ly nm European product. Hence. they
think If they will shut Americas gates
they will keep out this unrest.
All this is not gucss-work on my
part. Some time ago, seeing the writ
ing on the wall. / made it my husi-
ness to feel the pulse of some of the
legislators here at the Capitol. could
think of no filter perso nthnn our
Representative Sicgcl of New York.
Partly the wish for n sympathetic in
tcfprtIatlbn pl Inc SUBJECT WIS iie
father to the thought of seeing him in
preference to anyone else. altho on
other grounds as well. he was the
right one to interview. inasmuch aS
he is the ranking Republican ON the
Immigrant Committee Of the House.
This was before the bill that was
recently introduced in Congress to sus-
pend immigration completely for two
years. and Representative Sicgcl told
me that II b.ll of such character
would he introduced. 1t wnS his opin-
ion that such measure was inevitable
to check the tide of radicaliSm and
Iolshevism. aside from checking
fresh supply of labor. He even went
II step further. lie predicted legisla-
ton to empower the Government. for
at least ten years after landing. to
dcport anyone whom the Government
(Which Of courS" under orr system
would he II Government 10y the sue
ceSsful political partyl considered un-
desirable or guilty of pcrnicious prop
agauda. Such legislation. ii is worry
clear. would vest either of the two
great political PARTIES with the power
TO dcport. within stated period. ten
years or more. any Immigrant vino
may harhor political views clashing
with the conservative or reactionarv
policies Of the Iarty in power.
must confess that was not iuspir-
cd with these prospects and | left with
very definite impression that such
contemplated Immigration legislat tion
would meet with bitter opposition and