The Benson signal., 1919-05-31
CONGRESS is ALMOST SURE TO
ADOPT SOME IMMIGRATION
LEGISLATION SOON.
IT'S A TIcKLISH SUBJECT
Northern Members Not So Free to Act
as the Southerners-Bomb Plot In
creases the Chances for a Drastic
Measure.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

leglshuon, which at all times has
Deen charged with dynamite but
Whlch this time will be charged with
TINT.
immigration legislation scares everv
politician north of the Mason and
Dixon line. Most southern representa-
tives in congress can vote for total OK.
clusion of all would-be immigrants
and never stir more than a ripple Of
opposition among their constituents.
Northern representatives cannot do
thls except In the cases of a few men
VINO represent districts which to a
considerable extent are constituted
barring the negro-like the constitu-
encles OF the South. Republicans and
democrats In congress have voted on
many occasions against certain restric-
tive legislation of which at heart they
were in favor. They voted as they did
to save themselves at the polls.
When labor began t6 demand more
drastic immigration legislation, con-
gressmen paid heed and voted in con-
siderable measure for the reading and
writing restriction which finally be-
came a law after the bill containing
1t had been vetoed three times. Pres
ident Taft and President Wilson, men
OF opposite parties, did the vetoing,
but the measure finally was passed by
the required two-thirds majority over
the present presidents 'T forbid"
May Offer Bill Like Burnett's.
Representative Burnett, Democrat,
OF Alabama, in the last congress was
chairman of the house committee on
immigration. He proposed that no
foreigner, with the exception of a GER
tain few commercial classes and 9TH
ers, be permitted to come to this
country for five years. 1t is probable
that measure of this kind will be
introduced at the extra session Of
congress, but the chances are that it
will not have Republican sanction. 1t
will come in as an offset bill to be pre-
sented by some member who is willing
to take a longer stride than his col
leagues.
Recent anarchistic manifestations
seem to have moved the Republican
majority to a willingness to go farther
in restrictive legislation than three
weeks ago it was thought possible. 1t
Is impossible to say just what form
the legislation will take, but the feel
ing is that while no time limit of alb
solute exclusion will be set, something
will be done to prevent the entry into
this country Of men who are perfectly
able to pass the reading and writing
test, but who could not pass any test
of loyalty to any existing form of gov
ernment. The desire will be to keep
out the anarchists and the potential
anarchists, and it is admitted that the
literacy test is of little avail with
these classes.
Representative Burnett. who put in
the five-year exclusion bill, received a
bomb the other day through the mails.
So did ex-senator Hardwick of GeOr-
gia, who was active in immigration
legislation. The fact that these two
men were recipients of bombs will do
something to make more determined
the men of the coming congress who
will have immigration matters in
charge Bombings and attempted
bombings always work that way. They
tend to bring about the things which
the bomb senders and bomb throwerS
seek to prevent.
White House Made Whittier.
Today in Washington the White
House stands lonely. The only
scenes of activity within it's walls
are, to make a bull, not within it's
walls, or certainly not within it's walls
proper, for the only life visible is in
the offices of the annex where Secre-
tary Joseph P. Tumulty and Assistant
Secretaries Rudolph Forster and
Thomas w. Brahaney and a big staff
of clerical assistants daily are at work.
The White House has been treated
to a new coat of paint, and it stands
white and glistening in the May sun
shine. Every second year, or, at the
longest, every third year. the painters
come and put white Overcoat on the
old house. 1t was paint which gave
IuC I11C Adll1C VI w 111IC 4OuSC.
AS every American presumably
knows, the White House grounds are
directly opposite Lafayette square,
separated therefrom by the broad
reach of Pennsylvania avenue. In the
absence of the president and his fam
lily visitors are not admitted to the
White House, nor, in fact, have they
been admitted for long time because
Of existing war conditions. Soon, how
ever, it is believed that restrictions
will be off and that the old mansion
with it's treasures will be thrown open
in all it's parts except the actual living
quarters to the visitors from here,
there and everywhere.
From the White House to Lafayette
square being only step, nearly all
the spring visitors, and their name is