The sun., 1919-08-02
CHELSEA PROTESTS
INRUSH OF STAYS
Reds Awaiting Passage for
Europe and Asia Fill Board
ing Houses.

Resolutions directing the attention OF
the Mayor, the Board of Health and the
Lusk Legislative Committee to emigrant
boarding houses between Eighth and
Tenth avenues, Twentieth to Twenty
third streets, were adopted unanimously
by members of the Chelsea Neighbour
hood Association. in session last night In
Cavanagh's restaurant. 258 West
Twenty third street. They entered a for
NAL protest against conditions discov-
cred by private investigators.
This district was described by several
speakers as a practical example Of the
failure of Americanization efforts in GER
tain quarters, for 1t has proven since the
end of the war the clearing house
through which pass hundreds of thou
sands of the worst foreign element who
have lived in this country only to save
sufficient money to enable them to re-
turn to Europe and Asia to pass the re-
manned Of their lives sneering at Amer
lean ideals and institutions.
Oscar w. Ehrhorn, Republican leader
of the Chelsea district, declared there
was a floating population of 10000
foreigners, mostly Slavs, who are So
journing temporarily in the Chelsea dis
txict, awaiting accommodation on steam
ships which will take them back to their
native lands. They are living under the
most unsanitary conditions. instances
being discovered where from 100 to 12S
live in a single house where there Is
proper accommodation for not more than
fifteen or twenty. They use the beds In
shifts and sleep on the porches, causing
neighbors to move away and general
depreciation In value of Chelsea realty.
Instances were quoted by several OF
the speakers of the foreign invaders
spreading Bolshevism during their stay
in the vicinity. On several occasions,
there has been q wide distribution OF
Soviet literature and its source has been
traced to several houses IN Twenty-third
street. Meanwhile, It was stated, the
foreign born landlords of these places
| are reaping a tremendous harvest,
charging high rates to the men coming
into New York from the textile districts
of New England and the munition max
ing centers OF the Middle West Ac-
lcording to Mr.. Ehrhorn, the exodus of
these foreigners from large manufactur-
| ing centers for New York has only begun
and there Is evidence that at least
| $50, 900 more are due here as soon as
there are vessels to carry them away.
! This, he said, presages worse Instead OF
better conditions unless immediate &C
| ton is taken.
Oscar Cooper. president OF the New
York County National Bank; ]. NJ
Ferry and James P. Eadie, represent
| ing Benjamin Moore, president of the
association and one of the largest pro-
perty holders in the district, were among
| the speakers who urged an immediate
protest to the Mayor and the Board OF
Aldermen. 1t was also decided to invite
| the Lusk Committee TO open an official
Investigation of the boarding houses de-
scribed as the nests of Bolshevism in
| America"
Efforts were made by J. c. Kemp Van
Ee, Jr.. general manager of the asso-
citation, to get into communication last
night with Frank l.. bowling. Borough
President and a resident of Chelsea, to
make a formal protest to him, but he
| could not be located.