The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12
FRANKLIN OPPOSES
IMMIGRATION BAN
Mercantile Marine Head Says
u. s. Badly Needs Certain
Kinds of Labor.
BELGIAN ENVOY RETURNS
American, Back From Poland
on Adriatic, Predicts New
Red Drive.

Outspoken protests against drastic re-
striction of immigration at present was
made by p. A. S. Franklin, president OF
the International Mercantile Marine
Company, on his arrival yesterday from
England on the White Star liner Adri-
attic. The big ship reached port FRIDAY,
but was held at Quarantine by health
authorities until yesterday afternoon.
In commenting on the proposed Congress
programme to restrict immigration Mr..
Franklin said:
cit is my personal opinion that dras-
tic restriction of immigration at this
time would be the worst kind OF eco
nomic folly. 1t is well known fact
that there is a shortage of manual labor
in this country. We need every pair
of hands we can get to overcome that
shortage Everybody knows that 1t is
impossible for our farmers to get enough
labor to work their farms properly and
keep up our food supply. Everybody
knows also that there 10 a shortage Of
domestic or household labor.
"The only way open to US to supply
our shortage of labor is to draw upon
the supply on the other side of the At
lantic, and every precaution should be
taken to the end that only such labor
as we need is welcomed. Intelligent re-
striction of undesirable immigration to
keep out paupers, the deficient the idle
and the vicious is welcomed by the
steamship companies, which are pre-
pared, l am sure, as they always have
been, TO aid the Government in any
L., tl.a& t1t,g
1.25f Immigrants Held Up.
Although the liner locked yesterday,
It will be zen days at least before her
1854 third class passengers reach the
ma inland, for a case of sickness pro-
nounced typhus at Quarantine was dis
covered, and the immigrants were sent
to Hoffman Island for observation. The
21i first and 496 second class passen-
gers debarked last evening at the pier.
The Adriatic started from Southampton
December / for this port Via Cherbourg.
Among the passengers was Baron
Emile dc Cartier de M1rchienne. Belgian
Ambassador to the United States, and
the Baroness. The former expressed
plea sure over returning TO his post here
after a leave of six months, the first
since his arrival here IA February, 1917.
ton at the peace conference, however,
80 has been able to keep in close touch
with his coantry's progress since the
arnnistice.
"Belgium's production now is at rs
per cent. of the rate before the war;
the Ambassador said. ''She is going
ahead as rapidly as possible and her
people are working hard. In some in
dustries, such as cpal mining, produc.
ton has reached the pre-war rate. In
Belgium. as is true everywhere, there
has been a slackening In the iron and
steel plants, but this let up Is felt lesI
IN Belgium than elsewhere, where new
co .struction and other work do no
swell the demand
''Tr.e country is not forgetting it's deb
of gratitude to the United States as
have reason to know. Wherever l wen
BelsisTs would speak of the matter ant
ask me whether l knew personally Mr.
Smith. or ar. Jones, or Mr. Brown Of
the American Relief Commission, whom
they wolld always remember"
According 70 Capt. II. II. Railey, ar
American volunteer serving IN the Polish
army. Soviet Russia is messing an army
Of twenty seven divisions IN preparation
Tor an attack on Poland Ia the espring
POLAND Fears Red Onslaught.
"The question In Poland to-day" Capt
Railey said, Seems 20 be not VIII tn,
lleds Gomez but When WIN they come
The recent annihlIation OF Gen. Wran
gels army In the Crimea. where tn
Bo,shevists captured enormous quaint
ties OF booty. has alarmed the Polisl
people, but whether the fear of a new
Red Invasion is hysteria or wei
founded apprehension only time ear
tell IL 1t comes, Poland will make 9
supreme effort against dreadful odds
including an almost fatal shortage oi
supplies. to prevent another catastroph,
like the retreat 10 Warsaw"
Decentralization Of Polish troops, he
stated, had been stoppsd, for a spring
offensive is feared. poiands factories
are idle, typhus threatens, and In the
northern regions women and children
are starving. lie denied that there has
been genuine pogrom in Poland since
the courtry attained independence.
Among those on board were ten mem
bers OF Japancs emintary, naval and
financial mission going to South Amer.
tea; Alexander Barring mine owner IA
Mexico. o. DC Angarica, att2chc OF IN,
Cugan Legation IN France: he REV. I'd.
ward Murtaugh Of Philadelphia: Rich.
ard Pictot. an engineer employed by IN,
National city Company in Madrid. Mr.
and Mrs. Post Wheeler and Roger vii