New-York tribune., 1920-12-04
Crime Charged
To Aliens bv
New York Jury
Plea to Congress Declares
Mounting Tide of Immi-
grafton Serious Menace
to American Institutions
Red Peril Is Emphasized
Commissioner at Ellis Island
Also Recommends That
the Influx Be Stopped

ANARCHISTS, 6OlSneylk1 and other
>sds from Europe are invading Amer
ica by the thousands. Their methods
OF gaining admission are over the Mex.
ican and Canadian borders, as stow.
aways on liners entering New York, as
members of ships crews who desert on
arrival and as immigrants who pas.
through Ellis Island without revealing
their political faiths
These are the gist Of charges which
came yesterday from two sources. The
November grand jury Of Kings County,
referring to the proposal that Congress
Immediately suspend immigration for
two years, handed County Judge May 8
presentment which declares that the
influx Of $4,000 immigrants q month
IS making hodge-podge of American
civilization and is intensifyins this
country's foreign and domesti. prob
lens. The presentment urges that
Congress prohibit the admission of all
who cannot read and write English, and
who are unable to understand the fun
danental ideas of human liberty. Prac-
tlcally all homicides brought before
the jury and & vast majority of other
grave crimes have been committed by
foreigners, the presentment says.
Methods Employed
Frederick A. Wallis, Commissioner of
immigration at Ellis Island. at the
same time disclosed some of the condi-
lions which enable radicals to enter
the country Confirming report that
Holland is overcrowded with Russian
radicals seeking to reach America. he
said he had been informed by DR.. S. L.
Veenstra, Commissioner of Immigra
tion at The Hague, that every ship
leaving the Dutch port for New York
IS fllled with as many stowaways as
can be secreted aboard. When the shin
reaches New York stowaways either
jump overheard. or. often with the csn-
n''ance OF deserving members Of the
crew, walk down the gangplank when
the vessel is docked. Mr. Wallis said
1t would be impossible to estimate cor
rectiy the nun. Der OF radicals wno gain
admission as stowaways, deserting sea
men or by illegal entrance from Mexico
and Canada. He said that it would be
equally dlihcult to determine how many
arrived IN the guise of innocent immi-
grants, but that unquestionably. in
view OF kind of stampede among
European radicals to reach this coun.
Try, thousands are being let in under
antiquated immigration regulations.
Blamed for Crime
The prevalence of crime is attributed
% the great influx of aliens, in the
grand jury's presentment. 1t saws in
part:
"a study of the record Of our pro-
ceedlngs shows that all of the homi-
cides and most of the graver, more
desperate and heinous crimes were
committed by foreigners who palpably
have no understanding of the genesis
or genius Of American institutions.
They not only have not been assimi-
lated, but seemingly are unlikely un-
der present conditions ever to be as
sinilable.
THE facts as to many Of these
crimes show the presence in this city
Of foreign colonies whose existence is
perpetual menace to the lives and
property Of our law-abiding and law
loving citizens.
THE stream Of our national life can
permit any further pollution Of thus
stream ia to jeopardize our national ex-
lstence. To allow any further admx-
ture OF races IN our midst is to in
renslty our foreign as we'll as our
domestic problems. 1t will foster dis
union instead of promoting union. In
stead Of continuing as nation of high
ideals, we shall degenerate into mere
medley Of races. hodgepodge Of ma
tionalities.
Jury Recommendations
1--WE, therefore, earnestly request
Congress to enact such legislation as
VIII prohibit the immigration into the
country Of all who cannot read and
write English, and who do not possess
an intelligent understanding of the
fundamental ideas of human liberty.
"e further request that comprehensive
measures be taken for the education
Of every adult Of foreign birth, at least
IN the rudiments of simpler education
SUCH as will enable them to understand
our form of government"
N"nv immigrants leaving Europe are
having their steerage passage paid for
by relatives in this country. The Scan
dinavian-American Line, which runs
between New York and Copenhagen,
Wlcn connections at Danzg, reported
yesterday that it has booked from 1000
10 1000 Poles whose fares have been
paid for in New York The Cunard
Line cells from 100000 to 100000
lire day TO Italians. who are sending
II to Italy, presumably to help rela-
.ives come to America
Representa- tive William n Vaile, Of
Colorado, member Of the House Com
Tnittec on immigration, visited Ellis
Island yesterday to obtain data for
use in considering the bill to be pre-
scnted to Congress next week for sus-
pension of immigration.