Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18

the government OF the United States.
Consider the case of an individual
chosen from the body of one Of these
meetings In Detroit, Cincinnati. Buff
falo or Los Angeles. His name may
be anything. He may have been born
anywhere. But for convenience call
him Antonio. Peter, Halvor or An
drew. however, would answer just as
well.
Last month. or a year ago, or hve
years ago Antonio came out OF MS
ship In New York. On his back and IN
his hands were bags and bundles. Be-
hind him walked his wife and at her
side their children. An inspector gave
him a minutes or two--no more. Then
q doctor thumbed up his eyelids, look
ed at his tongue and took his pulse-a
minute more: probably less
X X X X
And Antonio passed on to be lost in
the hundred million human beings
who inhabit the United States. Visi-
bly,, apparently, Antonio was sound.
But what was in his mind or In his
heart? The government did not know.
It was through with him. Next. and
then next, until the ship was empty
and could return to Europe for an
other load.
Soon Antonio. with his property and
his family, WAS on his way to Penn
sylvania, Ohio or Texas. where he
found work. But this article has moth
ing to do with his journey, with his
perplexing experiences in q strange
country or with the fear, perhaps that
filled his heart. There was freedom In
America and Antonio found strength
and Joy In the thought. He would be
q good man. he said to himself, and
would work hard.
Days came and went and Antonio
was happy and satsfied--and home
sick at times. Sink or swim. survive
or perish. the government practically
had said and Antonio had taken the
government at it's word.
The government was far away how
ever and was not understood There
were policemen on the streets swing
ing locust clubs. and that was all An
tonic knew about the laws-and their
execution-of the great republic.
Then one noon while he was eating
his dinner out Of a tin bucket a new
friend suggested that he become
member of a workingman's society.
"You will receive higher wages and
get more rights" the new friend said.
"Thats what one must do in this
country" he added.
TharafOra Antnnin ininad and
found himself in a society of an
archists. Now it should be remem-
bered that Antonio was not an edu-
Gated man. His heart was simple
and his experiences were limited.
Nor did he understand at first that
he had cast his lot with anarchists.
Little by little he was induced to
believe that America was corrupt and
oppressive; that men with property
were the masters and that men of
toll were the slaves. There was no
justice under the Stars and Stripes,
he was assured. and there would be
no liberty until the government were
destroyed.
All this Antonio was told in his
own language by men who were born
in his own country and who had
learned by long residence in the
United States that what they said
was true. Step by step Antonio was
led from solid ground into the quag-
mire of crime-of crime in thought
and desire, IL not in act. Anyway.
Antonio ceased to be the material
out Of which good citizens are made.
The explanation for the downfall
OF this man, in the view Of Anthony
Caminetti, commissioner general of
Immigration, is to be found in the fact
that he was neglected by the gov
ernment; that he was taken ashore
from Ellis Island. after the inspector
and doctor were through with him
and practically abandoned to any fate
lurking in the background for his
undoing.
(. x X X
Thousands Of Antonios and Peter:
and Halvors and Andrews are goine
to ruin every year in exactly the
same manner as here described. Thu
result may not be disastrous to thi
country, but it does the country M
good, and it. certainly is injurious