The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-10-18
IMMIGRANTS FROM
EVERYWHERE POURING
INTO UNITED STATES

flood of immigrants in history pour
ing into it. Millions more are clamor-
ing at Europe's exist, anxious to come
to America and Congress will be
pressed to quickly enlarge both the
physical plant and working force on
the Island to more than double Its
present size, according to immigration
Commissioner Frederick A. Wallis.
Since early last summer, aliens
have been entering Americas front
door in unprecedented numbers. The
problem of housing them until they
can be admitted to the country has
become painful to all parties con-
cerned. Recently hundreds of immi-
grants detained for investigation had
to sleep standing up, as the floors,
benches and chairs already were fill
ed with the backwash from the con-
gested dormitories.
The tide is certain to become
greater with each passing month,
Commissioner Wallis felt assured.
Steamship operators informed him
their accommodations are booked to
capacity for IL months ahead. Gov
ernment officials announced 100000
applications had been made for pass
ports in Poland alone, mostly by Jews
while hundreds of thousands in other
parts of Europe also were anxious to
cross the seas to this country.
Between 100000 and 100000
Italians are seeking domiciles and cit
izensship here and more than 3,OOO,-
900 Poles want to come over; said
Commissioner Wallis, who attributed
The exodus from Europe to the harsh
postwar living conditions and the
economic situation.
Frequently the commissioner asked
the aliens why they left Europe.
Most of them replied "no money, no
eat" he said. Many Italian farmers
declared they quit their native soil
because of the danger from explo-'
sions when blowing in, former battle
grounds.
Added to the prospective influx of
immigrants from the countries of the
war allies, will be millions in from
Germany who, as soon as the way is
clear, will seek passage. to America,
the immigration authorities have been
informed by reliable and official
sources. "The immigration in the fu-:
ture will be limited only by the capac-
ity of the vessels" Commissioner
Wallis said.
In the meantime while wondering
how many years it will be before
aliens quit coming across the sea at
their present rate Ellis Island work.
ers are perplexed over their existing
problems. The normal capacity of the
island is reached when 1000 immi-
grants are inspected daily. Yet on a
recent day, 1O,4O0 aliens were fed
there. During another day the same
week 1000 persons were detained in
The holds of the vessels which brought
them over, while officials struggled
with the work of examining the 1000
then on the island. For two days the
island doors were shut against incom-
ers, who remained on boats.
The rapidity of handling them de-
pends upon ! the aliens themselves.
Commissioner Wallis has found that
some groups are easier to examine
than others, while care must be taken
in separating the many nationalities
which make the island conversation
sound like that at the Tower of Bah
ell.
eff we mix English, Irish and
Jews there will be free-for-all fight
in ten minutes" said the commission
er. "The English won't eat with the
Jews, and call them foreigners
Three recent additions to the tasks
of the immigration officials have
made more tedious the handling of
the aliens. Much time is required. in
viseing passports and the literary test
which all immigrants must pass, also
causes trouble. Each alien must read
in one LANGUAGE before being admit