The Denver Jewish news., 1920-10-06
JEWISH INFLUX TO THE U. S.
MUST BE CONTROLLED
OvercrOwding At Ellis Island Forces
Commissioner to Suspend Immigra-
tiOn
(J. c. B. Service.J


the Land of Liberty. was so congest
ell that very few of the immigrants
were able to sleep. According to of.
fetal figures, 3,319 individuals were
quartered in accommodations origi
nally intended for 1.JOO. This was
said to have resulted from an effort
on the part of the authorities to ad,
nit as maIy Jews as possible on t.
the Island. so that they might spend
the Day of Atonement ashore. As a
inability of officials to cope with the
crowd. Commissioner of Immigratio.
Wallis. Informed all shipping compa
nies that no passenger would he
landed for few days until the Island
had been cleared.
On Thursday an unfortunate in
cident occurred. Relatives and friends
of the immigrants gradually gathered
at the Island until it is said about
1000 were in the waiting rooms, in
the hope of Mt least getting glimpse
Of those they We're awaiting and had
not seen for many years. Progress.
however. on the part of the authori-
ties was slow and the waiting crowd
became restless and finally unruly.
The iron gates were broken down and
rush was made for the detention
quarters. This was at an hour when
the majority of the Island attendants
had gone for the day, and We're it
not for the personal appeal of the
Commissioner. the unexpected move
on the part of the crowd might have
led to serious consequences
Commenting on the situation. Com.
missioner Wallis said:
II have called a conference of thc
heads of the different divisions to se'
what can be done to relieve conges-
ton and reduce discomfort to min
mum. There were not blankets
enough for all the women and chill
dren. found. In the New York
room found 1900 Jewish. women
large enough for go persons.
1.-The exodus of these Jewish people
from Poland amounts to stampede.
| They are coming too fast for their
own good. They tell pitiful tales of
being robbed at Danzig and Warsaw
by the official police and government;
authorities. One Jewish woman told
| me last night that sh. had been
,ohhal ,t \N,rsoyv hnforn sailing and
when she made n protest about it to
| the authorities she was locked IL
| prison two weeks. She now finds her
self and children here without money
| to take them where they are going
There are hundreds just like her.
Il am convinced that II serious mis-
| take has been made in letting these
people come over in such n panic-like
stampede as this. l am Informed that
| Felix Warburg is heading move
ment to discourage this unbusiness,
| like method of turning loose thou
sands of the Jewish people all at
once upon the tide of immigration
| All parties concerned would profit II
Mr. Warburg is successful in his move
| to hold back this overwhelming tide
of Jewish refugees.
81 am going to Washington tonight
| to see what can be done to remedy
conditions. If necessary, l shall ass
| the Labor Department 70 call upon
the State Department to hold up pass
ports. and not continue to paralyzc
our immigration system this way
I Throughout all this trying period
| the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant
Aid Society of America. through its
representatives on the Island. has
Leen rendering every possible assist
nnce to the Administration and has
helped the immigrants in its usual
, manner.
A gathering consisting of represen
tatives of many hundreds of trade
unions in this city. decided to take
steps to aid the incoming immigrants
in some direct manner. 1t was de
cided that one of the first steps t'
he taken would be the establishment
| of a bureau at Ellis Island. This bu
rrau would naturally cooperate wifi
the immigration authorities. 1t would
lie the chief object of this bureau t'
place newcomers as quickly as pos
| sihle in the respective industries f.
which they belong. A committee was
chosen to work out complete plans
which will he ratified by the unior
representatives. The movement was
Trades, of which Mr.. Max Pine i
secretary.
DR.. Stephen S. Wise is to romai'
| l.. aHicn as n yice-nreSilnnt of tn