Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-07
A New Tide Of Immigration.

new ice OF Immigration.
A few months ago we were getting
aroused over the prospect of a great
wave Of emigration from this coun.
try. We were in danger Of losing all
our unslxilled, but not inexpensive
labor: the domestic servant problem
was assuming national proportions:
and the accumulated, savings Of years
acquired in this land were being car
ried away by the millions by Euro
peans who were returning to their
native soil. We were wondering who
would henceforth cook our meals,
scrub our floors, dig our bitches.
make our sausages and do countless
essential things tina we do not deign
to do for ourselves.
Now it appears that the cause for
worry is being speedily removed.
The port Of New York reported Sat-
urday that 100000 immigrants are
expected to land during this month.
and that nearly $4,000 arrived last
month, with $500 being landed in 4s
hours. An agent Of the Travellers
Aid in Chicago says that the servant
problem is rapidly solving itself by
this influx Of girls from Scandi-
navia, Ireland England and Italy who
are said to be eager to do housework.
Ons Chicago employment agency re-
ports that 'in three or four months
we will have almost the old condi-
tions back-girls willing to do work
for 81 or So a week instead Of the
highly tightly busters willing to as
sist In housework for SO a week."
Those who are coming are not all
girls for general housework by any
means. Many are Italian men and
their families who left with their
savings in the summer, hoping to
find ready work and great oppor-
tunities for fame in Italy. They
have found that the cost of living is
higher in Italy than here and that
moreover the living is not so good.
They have been disillusioned about
all becoming mayors Of their native
towns and so they come back to get
their old jobs or better ones and to
make big money in the land Of the
free and the home Of the brave.
Many other would-be newcomers
are tinged with red. coming in the
name Of "the cause" and hoping to
get by the authorities on one count
or another. in spite Of the possibility
Of deportation if they are active in
spreading their soviet theories. They
are the kind that will take chance
and try anything once. Some Of the
well-known reds having been de-
ported. they conceive it is their mis-
sion to take their places and carry
on the work under cover of their
anonymity.
If the estimate of 100000 immi-
grants this month is to be taken as a
gauge it will bring back the million
a-year record Of pre-war days and
the immigration problem will be with
US with multiplied complexities
What steps have we taken to meet
it?
Just one: as an emergency meas
ure Congress passed the johnson
bill continuing the wartime pass
port regulations. This legislation is
designed primarily to exclude aliens
who may be in the dangerous radical
class. but it is emphatically stated
that it does not take the place OF
immigration laws which are desir-
able and should be enacted. The
closing days of the special session
were SO damned with work that suf-
ficient time and consideration could
not be given to framing them; hence
the makeshift. If Congress is now
at work on immigration laws tina,
will take care of the new problem
the public has yet to hear of it.