Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-18
IMMIGRATION LAW
URGED TO SECURE
LABORERS FOR j. S.
Senator Edge Tells Manu-
facturers ''DesirabIe For
eigners" Are Needed.


NEW YORK, May 1s.--Temporary
modification Of the immigration laws
to permit an influx of desirable i'm
migrants to meet Americas labor
shortage was urged here today by
United States Senator Walter E. Edge
of New Jersey. in an address before
the National Manufacturers Associa-
ton. He also advocated a process OF
characterization to prevent new i'm
migrants from falling under the spell
of worldwide anarchists and boil
shevists."
Immigrants should be Saturated
with American loyalty and patriot
ISM" Senator Edge added, and should
be prevented from being lied through
the mire Of radicalism into the morass
Of anarchy"
Quoting Commissioner of Immigra-
ton Caminetti as stating that the rad
icals have "a wonderful organization
for capturing each immigrant. al
most at the moment of landing. and
bringing him. under their influence.
the senator said that less than six
weeks is needed to prepare his mind
for welcome reception of communist
doctrines"
"Anarchistic newspapers and other
literature are fed him in generous
doses" declared Senator Edge. why,
circulate through the United States
mail is outrageous.
Propaganda Spread Openly.
"Bolshevist propaganda is openly
spread throughout the land; SO think
Of the amount Of such stuff that must
be circulated surreptitiously among
the ignorant and the disloyal. No
wonder the immigrant is led astray
,fcn ~ ~ TO nnxry 90
In urging notifications Of the immi
grafton laws. the senator said he did not
mean to "open the doors to an indts-
criminate horde OF newcomers, add
ing that undesirables must not be adj
mitted and that none shall be per-
mitted to become an undesirable after
his entry"
Moreover. against such undesira
bles," he added. who may filter
through l would apply every law for
deportation without the tenderness APP
parently shown for radicals and boil
shevists by officials Of the present adj
ministration."
America needs common labor in all
Of it's industrial fields. Senator Edge
declared. adding that industries Of
all kinds are handicapped and in some
instances almost crippled" by the
this was mainly due to "the gradua-
ton of elemental American workers
10 higher spheres of work"
We must have workers of all
kinds he said. land so for the mo-
ment it would seem advisable to en-
courage desira Bile immigration rather
than curtail it.
1.-The main barrier at this time is
the literary test The head tax
should not be prohibitive and pos
sibly might be retained in order to
make the immigrant feel that he was
oht lining nriyiIore unrth having
for
Wage Scale Secure.
There need be no fear Of immi-
grant labor lowering the American
wage scales, Senator Edge asserted,
adding that 'it seems more likely
that these newcomers quickly will
be enlisted in the ranks Of those
still higher wages. without regard
to the stimulating effect on the high
cost Of living or the welfare OF the
millions OF citizens not combined to
coerce employers into frequently ad-
vancing their pay
Of class legislation, declared that one
OF the first steps in the true Ameri-
canization of our own people and our
immigrants'' should be enforcement
# that declaration In the Declaration
of independence that ''All men are
inalienable rights"
GLASS fayoritism and class distinc-
ton and class privilege in legislation
must be repealed and never again be
attempted" he said. "As start,
have introduced in the Senate bill to
farmers organizations from investi-
cation and prosecution by the Depart
ment OF Justice under an urgent de-
ficiency law, enacted not long ago.
The laws Of the United States ap-
ply. without distinction, to all the
group or class should be exempt
merely because it calls itself union
or a grange or a sodality or con-
gregation."
Protection for Industries.
Adoption of new and emphatic
federal legislation severely penalizing
attempts to cripple the nations in
drstries was urged by Stephen c. Ma
sen. president Of the association.
"On three different occasions with
in the past year." he said, the country
has been treated to the spectacle of
comparative minority. with boldly an
nounced selfish and un-American in
terests. disregarding entirely the par
amount public interest, attempting to
1t is the vital issues in these con-
sriracies against the public welfare
that are fundamental and demanding
our serious and immediate attention"
Mr.. Mason also said 1t was i'm
perative that the foreign credit stu
soon as possible as "our prosperity is
largely dependent upon a strong de-
mand abroad for our goods"
The convention tonight will formal
ly act upon the proposed platform for
American industry.