The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-08
FLOW GROWING LARGE
IMMIGRANTS IN GREAT
NUMBERS ARRIVE
Ellis Island Fails To Accommo-
date the Thousands Reach
ing Nation Shores
ASSOCIATED Press D!spatch.I

~sch~SS.'S
New York, October Ellis Island
melting pot Of the world, is boiling
as never before, with the greatest
flood of immigrants in history pour
Ing into it. Millions more are clam
oring at Europe's exits, anxiuos to
come to America and congress win be
pressed to quickly enlarge both the
physical plant and working force on
the Island to more than double its
present size, according to lmmigra-
ton Commissioner Frederick A. Wal
liz - r
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 concern
ed. Recently, hundreds OF immi /.
grants detained for investigation, had
to sleep standing up, as the floors,
bonchas and chairs already were nj
led with the ba6kwash from the con-
gested dormitories.
Jews Number Large.
The tide is certain to become great
er with each passing month, commits
sioner Wallis felt assured. Steam :
ship operators informed him their
accommodations are booked to capa-
city for twelve months ahead. Gov
ernment officials announced $4,000
applications had been made for pass
ports In Poland alone, mostly by Jews,
while hundreds Of thousands in other
M ~
cross the seas to this country.
Between 100000 and 100000
Italians are seeking domiciles and
citizenship here and more than g.
00O, 900 Poles want to come over,
said Commissioner Wallis, who attri-
buted the exodus from Europe to the
harsh post war 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
declared they quit their native soil
because of the danger from explosions
when blowing in former battle
grounds.
Germans Are Coming.
immigrants from the countries of the
war allies, will be millions in from
Germany who, as soon as the way is
clear, will geek passage to America
the immigration authorities have been
informed by reliable and official
"The immigration in To future will
be limited only by the capacity Of the
vessels" Commissioner Wallis said.
In the meantime while wondering
how many years it will be before
aliens quit coming across the sea at
their present rate, Ellis Island work
ers are perplexed over their existing
problems. The normal capacity OF
the island is reached when 1000 i'm
migrants are inspected daily. Yet, on
here. During another day the same
week 1900 persons were detained
In the holds of the vessels which
brought them over, while officials
struggled with the examining the A.
900 then on the island. For two days
the island doors were shut against
incomers, who remained on boats.
The rapidity of handling them do
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 free for all fight In ten
1.-The English won't eat with the Jews
and call them foreigners"
Test Literary Powers
Three recent additions to the tasks
Of the immigration officials have made
more tedious the handling 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 being ad
mitted. In addition to its labors with
the aliens, the immigration officials
examine every seaman >entering the
port, even though he left it but a few
days before. In the last eight months
100000 seamen were examined here
Despite congestion everything pos
ment Of the aliaas on the island hu
name. Babies are given warm milk
and crackers. Candy, cigarettes, fruit
and other comforts are furnished
adults. Sunday concerts, with bands
grand opera stars and others IN the
program, are held weekly. For those
who cannot find bed, 10000 army
blankets received from Washington
are available for improvised sleepine
equipment.
Ellis Island authorities are tryins
not to keep the aliens in the holds OF
the vessels after arrival and are striv.
Ing not to delay commerce by holding
up ships in that manner and SO fai
they. have succeeded. But, no mat
ter how fast the immigrants arrive
the examinations will not be made
less rigid, but will continually be
made more severe, Commissioner
Wallis said.
| Aliens who are refused admittancs
and the percentage of rejected ones
has increased greatly since before the
war are returned to the port from
which they came at the expense o.
the steamships. Most of those adult
ted to America are going to indus.
trial centers, but many are f1ocking Il
rural districts and farms, the com
missioner said.