Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-07
Great Flood of
Immigrants Pour
to Ellis Island
BY Associated Press.

melting pot ~ OF the WOrIQ, lS
boiling as never before, with
| the greatest flood of immigrants
in history pouring into it. Millions
more are clamoring at Europe's exits,
anxious to come to America and con-
gress will be pressed to quickly ems
! large both the physical plant and
working force on the island to more
than double its present size, accord
ing 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 filed
with a 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 twelve months ahead
600 applications, had been made for
passports 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.
tBetweenl 5000, 600 and 100000
Italians are seeking domiciles ana
citizenship here and more than D.
| 100000 Poles want to come over"
said Commissioners Wallis, WHO at
tributed 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 mo money. no eat
he said. Many Italian farmers de-
clared they quit their native soil be-
| cause of the danger from explosions
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 seeh passage to America,
| the immigration authorities have
been informed by reliable and official
sources. The immigration in the
future will be limited only by the
capacity of the vessels. Commission
er Wallis said
| In. the meantime while. wondering
how many years it Fill s>be berore
l oil y, ,t
their present rate, Ellis island work
ers are perpleXed over their existing
problems. The normal capacity of
the island is reached when 10000 i'm
migrants are inspected daily. Yet,
on recent day, 1O.400 aliens were
fed there. During another day the
same week 1900 persons were de-
tanned in the holds of the vessels
which brought them over, while Of
ficials struggled with the Work of ex-
aiming the 1900 then on the island.
For two days the island doors were
shut against tnconers, who remained
/ on boats.
The rapidity Of handling them de-
ponds 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
| Babel. -
IF we mix English, Irish and Jews
! there will be a free for all fight in
ten minutes" said the commissioner.
"The English won't eat with the
Jews. and call them foreigners
Three recent additions to the tasks
of the immigration officials have
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 be-
ing admitted. In addition to its
labors with the aliens, the&immigra-
| ton officials examine every seaman
entering the port, even tho he left
| it but a few days before. In the last
eight months 100000 seamen were
examined here.
Despite congestion everything pos
-sible is being done to make the treat
ment of the aliens on the island
humane. Babies are given warm
milk and crackers. Candy, cigarets,
ffruit and other comforts are fur
nished adults. Sunday concerts, with
bands. grand opera stars and others
! on the program, are held weekly.
For those who can not find bed, TO-
600 army blankets recently received
| from Washington are available for
improvised sleeping equipment.
+ Ellis Island authorities are trying
not to keep the aliens in the holds of
the vessels after arrival and are
striving not to delay commerce by
holding up ships in that manner and
50 far they have succeeded. But.
no matter how fast fhe immigrants
arrive, the examinations will not be
made les rigid but will continually be
made more severe, Commissioner
Wallis said.
Aliens who are refused admittance
land the percentage Of rejected ones
has increased greatly since the war
are, returned to the port from which
| they came at the expense Of the
steamships. Most of those admitted
| to America, are going to industrial
centers. but many are tlocking to
rural districts and farms, the COM
missioner said.