The labor world., 1921-06-11
THAT IMMIGRATION "1NvAs1oN. ,

THAT IMMIGRATION ''1NVAS1ON.
Need we fear tho threatened invasion
of foreigners, who. We are being told,
are lined up on the borders Of coas-
countries in Europe, waiting to rusn
into America as soon rs they can find
shipping that will bring them across?
It's interesting that fo: hundred
years TIC "menacc' Of the imn!i grant
has threatened to destroy our dcmoc
racy--accor,ling TO the wise neu Of
every generation.
Benjamin Franklin sa:,i way back in
1855 that the immigrants then coming
to America were most stupiJ.' and
that "it is almost impossible to :erove
any prejudice they entertain. and they
Will soon outnumLcr us.
But it never happened. To-day there
are proportionatcly twelve times as
many immigrants coming T., America
compared with the total population
as were coming when Franklin seemed
to be so greatly :larmed about the ar.
rival Of 'hordcs OF tore,rners,' and
millions upon miIlione nave arrived
since Franklin S days reariv 3j,O00,00O
in all.
But-many millions have returned.
Some years fully half as n.1rs as came
went back, and during some recent
years quite as many returned as az
rived.
Here s another startling fact 10 many
Of us: Since 1860 the percentage of
foreign born in the United States has
varied less than one Per cent above or
below II. Following are the figures:
In 1860 the percentage OF foreign. born
i'll the United States was 1872; in 1870,
IA; in 1880. 13.3: in 1890, las; in
1900, 1877; in 1910. 14.7. In 1n.u, it
was only l2.9eo-the lowest that it has
been IN over half a century. There
seems to be no particular danger then
IN the so-called menace of the inmi-
grant in point Of numbers.
But we have been rather careless
about the entire question of the immi.
grant, and the new world situation pro-
duced by the war should cause US to
give it more serious attention,
Congress will doubtless pass some
Kind Of legislation on this subject dur
ing the present session, and labor will
be greatly affected by its action.
Whatever plan may be adopted, it
should contain these principles:
First, regulation as to the number and
Find OF immigrants admitted.
= Second, a scientific basis for deter
' mining the fitness and general ouali-
ties of intending immigrants.
Third, selective process which will
sift the undesirable from the easily as
similable.
Fourth, an effective method Of dis.
sr1butlon based upon suggestion and ed
ecat1on rather than upon compulsion.
Fifth, flexible or elastic policy
which will quickly admit Of chances in
the number admitted as economic or
other needs arise.
Sixth, a universal policy, which will
OPEN to citizenship in this country with
out discrimination all those who du,v
qualify, provided that they NAV be cas-.
aly and naturally assimilated. The nr;n-
clple accepted by the American Fedora. .
tlon OF Labor, ''never to discriminate
against a fellow-workcr on account, of
creed, color, or nationality' should ha
incorporated in our Immigration laws
III we do oppose certain grouns =
should be for reasons other than theso
seventh, patriotic policy, which will
encourage the development of the finest
! american spirit, without class hatred.
/ Neather are hyphenated American,
Wanted-nor 'Eoutposts' for other
countrles.-Rev. Charles stelzle.