New-York tribune., 1920-12-03
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED rREs.
The immigration Flood

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Since the memory of Americans
runneth not to the contrary few
have been the Congresses wherein
we're no efforts to restrict immigra-
ton. But the net result has been
practically nil. Taxes on incomes
have been increased, the importation
Of contract labor prohibited and
steerage passenger lists have been
combed to keep out paupers, crimi-
mails and anarchists. Yet the flood
has not been stayed. The immi-
grants numbered more in 1914 than
in any other year in our national
history. The observation-disclosures
have never won their main objective
A more determined effort this Win
ter than ever before to put up the
bars is foreshadowed from Washing
ton. Reports from Europe are that
an army vastly exceeding in number
the one we sent to France is waiting
to come--some estimators putting
the total at 100000. The first
waves Of this mighty tide are now
tapping the Ellis Island gates.
America is stupidity bourgeois and
still stubbornly capitalistic, yet the
proletariat of lands more blessed by
the new radicalisn would come here.
The House Committee on Immi-
grafton has prepared the first draft
of an excluding bill which is to be
urged for immediate passage. 1t ap-
plies tests which it is predicted will
cut down immigration so per cert.
1t is proposed to admit only protcs-
sional workers, skilled artisans,
blood relatives of naturalized Amer
l. nd agricultural workers who
h. procured in advance employ
nent on the farms.
In behalf of the measure the usual
arguments are made. First, the
political one that the newcomers arc
coming beyond the power of Amer
ica TO assimilate them; that under
present conditions the immigrants
are likely to include an unusually
large percentage Of undesirables
Second, the economic argument
that employment in America is not
SO universal as to make welcome to
our workers large number of labor
competitors for jobs.
If the bin sketched is passed it is
likely TO prove grave disappoint-
ment TO its promoters. 1t is doubt
ful whether it viii materially reduce
immigration. BY what machinery is
it proposed to keep laborers on the
farms, even though they first 90
there? What is to be the definition
of skilled artisan? Hundreds Of
thousands Of aliens are now un-
naturalized. They will take out
papers TO enable their relatives to
come in. The relatives in Europe Of
residents Of America are many mil
lions. Moreover, it is the skilled
labor Of America which particularly
objects to immigration. and skilled
labor is to have no protection.
So far as concerns national eco
noncs it would seem that the cxclu-
sion of the unskilled would strike a
heavy blow at the nations prosper
ity and thus injure the great body
OF our skilled workers. The country
as Z whole as much needs common
labor az the farms. The American
has little liking for mere bravn
work. The common laborcr is not
commonly his competitor. A reason
Nhy the wages Of skilled labor arc
nigh in this country is that tasks
which demand only muscle have
heretofore been largely done by the
newly arrived immigrant To let the
skilled in while the unskilled are
kept out win scarcely improve the
lot Of members Of trade unions.
This fact is more realized in trade
lnion circles than formerly.
A new immigration act should
he put ON the statute books. But it,
VII have ~ be very carefully drawn,
~ Il must take into consideration
'"o conflicting problems - Amcri-
canization ana an increased labor
supply.