New-York tribune., 1919-11-29
Anarchists Held Despite
Labor Department Or
der, Ellis Island Super
intendent c harge S
Reds Fared Well:
Kept Out Draught
arole a Custom, Says
Uhl, but No List Made;
697 Held, Only 90 Go

Frederic G. Howe. formerly Commits
soner of Immigration at Ellis Island,
made repeated efforts yesterday to tes-
tfy before the Congressional commit
tee in session at the island, but the
Howe sat through the session without
taking the stand, although he inter
rupted proceedings frequently.
Representatives Raker, of California
and Siegel. of New York, objected to
the onetme commissioner being
heard Their objections were sus-
tanned by Albert Johnson, Of Wash
ington, chairman. Following a clash
between Byron II. Uhl, Acting Com
missioner of immigration. who was
testitying, and Mv. Howe, Representa-
tive Raker sad
This hearing is in the committees S
charge and we are not in police court
The committee is running the whole
thing. Mr. Howe and everybody else
might as we'll realize that. here and
now
Howe to Testify Later
Chairman Johnson told Mr.. Howe
he would be heard later and his testi
mony would be taken at length His
interruptions were stricken from the
record. He was an eager listener as
witnesses testified to alleged irregu-
iarlties at the island during the time
he was in charge of the imm igration
station.
AT the afternoon session Mr. John
son read memorandum written by
MIR. Howe to Percy A. Baker. superin-
tendent Of the island, regarding depor-
tatlon cases The memorandum was
Under date of March 10. 1919 and read:
You will stay all deportations in
alien cases until the attorneys can be
advised and until after consultation
with me-
Had to See Howe First
superintendent Baker told the COM
mlttee the cases were those of anar-
chists sent to the island from Akron.
Ohio, and the West and that the men
rad been ordered deported by the De-
partment of Labor at Washington. He
testified that an order of the depart-
ment was final and he therefore did not
understand the note from the commits
sioner.
After consulting Mr.. Howe, he said.
he jotted down pencied memorandum
on the order that the commissioner
was to be seen before deportation war
rants were executed.
"What authority did the Commits
sioner of immigration at Ellis Island
have to stay deportation 2" asked Rep
resentative Raker.
81 have no idea" replied the super
intendent.
Did it mean,' Mr.. Raker continued,
that you had to see Howe before these
men were deported? 2"
"fes, sir" Mr.. Baker replied.
Hunger Strike Becomes Serious
While the immigration committee
was completing the seventh day of it's
investigation into conditions at the ISL
and, the radicals in Room 203, who are
on hunger strike, were completing
their fourth successive day without
food. Nobody, apparently, is worried
over the situation unless it is Isaac
Shorr, counsel for the Ellis Island
Soviet"
Mr.. shorr said yesterday the condi-
ton OF the men really is serious.
"They're not eating, and haven't
eaten since Monday night he declared
Pm afraid they're all going to die.
can't do anything with them
The authorities at the station took
steps to break the strike Yesterday
Peter Bianki, NJ. Oshavowrkv and
Arthur ketzes. the "Committee Of
Room 203," whose signatures were at
tached to the letter to Mr. Uh de-
mandng that the iron screen in the
visitors room be removed, were
marched out Of the detention pen and
put iii room by themselves
One Agrees to Eat
One radical gave in yesterday and
said he was ready to eat. He was
taken to the hospital on litter
There still are sixty-six men and two
women, according to Acting Commits
sloner Uhl, who declare they will not
touch food until the Objectionable
screen is removed Mr.. Gh insists
that the screen will stay where it is.
Hearings of cases of several of the
men in room 203 got under way yes
terday, despite the "silence" strike
and the refusal of the men to make
known their Identity Nine deputy
United States marshals were provided
to assist the island guards There
were no disturbances. however,
Tells Of Malone Speech
After testfying before the commit
tee regarding the staying of the de-
portation cases, Superintendent Baker
was asked by Chairman Johnson if he
had seen anarchistic flags displayed
during the administration of Mr.. Howe.
The witness replied he had not.
Did Dudley Field Malone ever speak
at the island?" Representative Siegel
asked
He spoke here the night after the
United States declared war" Mr.. Baker
replied He delivered an address on
the open porch and several of the Of
ficials were present. | got the impress