Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-06
Immigrant Flood
The Gravest Problem
Before the Nation

New York gave out Sunday signed
statement respecting the present and
prospective immigration to this coun-
try. In this he says:
More than three thousand immi-
grants are coming into Ellis Island
almost daily. More than one million
will be the count for the fiscal year
1920-1921. More than ten million are
now waiting in various parts Of war;
stricken Europe, to swarm to the
United States as soon as they can
obtain transportation.
These millions are not immigrants
in the strict sense of the term. Many
OF them are refugees-refugees from
lands that have been harassed and
torn by war and treason for six
years; refugees from countries that
offer them little now but discomfort.
dissention, unhappiness. impoverish-
ed living conditions and disease.
These millions are looking to the
United States as their Promised
Land; their Haven of Relief; their
asylum. The greater number per-
haps are migrating with the full
thought of becoming law-abiding,
self-supporting, Industrious citizens.
! They are coming with smiling faces
and with arms outstretched in sup
plication to the arms that are willing
to give them welcome-if they are
worthy Of citizenship or domicile.
Their coming is growing every
day more vital to the welfare of the
country. National interest is awak-
III 10 h4
of finding a solution of this problem
Just recently l was visited by a
committee Of the National Associa-
/ ton of Manufacturers, which is
making an exhaustive investigation
of every phase of the immigration
question. / understand this commit
tee will submit a comprehensive and
practical measure that not only win
regulate immigration. but distribute
it in agricultural and industrial ter
ritories where it is so greatly needed
and where it may best be absorbed
l believe no greater public service
can be performed by our prominent
and able business men than by TAX
! ing a vigorous interest in, this prob
lem which is becoming more and
| more complex with each shipload of
immigrants.
I am told by persons of unques-
toned authority from Europe that at
least eight million emigrants are
| ready to come here from a certain
country. as soon as peace is declared,
| and the way made clear From per-,
sonal information 1 have received, I
am inclined to believe there are more
| like fifteen millions of people clam
oring to come to America. Many
thousands of them already have
bought steamship tickets and are
merely awaiting word that transpor-
tation has been provided Armies of
this nationality are ready to come
through Holland. Even Holland is
losing thousands upon thousands of
what they are pleased to.call their
best type of working people who are
coming to this country to get away
from the spirit of unrest and turmoil
that has permeated the whole Euro
pean fabric. l am told authoritative
ly that three and half million Ital-
ians are demanding passage to this
country and that hundreds of thou
sands are on the steamships lists. I
| am inclined to- believe the actual
figure is much greater than three and
half millions: Further, am told
that half a million Poles are headed
this way. The British ships are
bringing in thousands of Scotch,
English, Irish and Welsh. What will
happen when the bars of Russia are
let down. can only be guessed. Thou
sands upon thousands of steamship
tickets have been issued and in the
hands of intending emigrants for
from two to five years. And there is
no indication that this westward
flood Of humanity is to come to any
sudden halt
What are we to do about this ire
mendous influx? That is the most
pressing, the most important and the
most vital question before the country
today. Congress must look Ito the
situation at once. We must take I'm
the problem and work it out fairly.
frankly and Immediately. We I'M
doubtedly need great many of these
people: but where? Our farms, for
instance, can take care Of great num-
bers, for the farmers are crying for
help all the time. Our coal mines
need men; SO do our cotton fields and
a great many other places where solid
sober and substantial people Of good
intent will be welcome. But then our
whole country is in the process of
observation-disclosures of people
getting out Of the war-emergency
work and going into other channels.
It undoubtedly would be a good thing
liz we could establish some sort Of
preferential selective scheme for the
admission Of these immigrants. - .
h In my opinion we are undoubtedly
receiving today many Of the very
best type Of immigrants that ever
have come to this country. They are
Of all the nations on the face Of the
earth. The greater part Of them say
they are coming to get away from
the conditions Of unrest and dissen-
sion in their native lands. This very
CASCARETS