The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-06
HARD|NG'S POSITION IS CLEAR
ON THE IMMIGRATION BILL
Nv MARK SULLIVAN

The IntellIgencerD
Washington. May NO one doubts
that President Harding Will sign the
immigration restriction bill Last sum-
mer. in the address in which h" accept
ed the Republican nomination for the
presidency. one Of the points made by
Senator Harding was that N the past
we had been too prone to think OF I'M
migration merely as the raw mat"rial
Of industry and that in tho future we
must think Of it as material TO nc as
simulated into our social institutions
Those who have followed this bill
closely have no doubt If the motives
which have made its advocates feel
strongly about it. Those motives nave
not always been expressed openly. FOR
one reason, some senators ana congress-
mon have among their constituents ra-
Cial clements which cause them TO heS!-
tate to speak frankly against receiving
any more Of the same elements. FOR
another reason, II sense Of delicaCN OF
amenity in human relations causes them
to hesitate to say openly that hey Oh
jcct to more immigrants from certain
racial stocks. They do not wish to OF
fend the feelings of tho members OF
those same stocks who are already here.
But if as much frankness can be used
as is possible, consistent with decent
regard for the feelings Of other human
beings. 1t must be said the compelling
motives behind the overwhelming ma
jority by which this immigration re-
striction bill passed both houses OF con-
Gress is hesitancy about the recent I'M
migration. which comes largely from
eastern and southeastern Europe. II this
bill were 4 matter of excluding immi-
grants from England or from Ireland
or from Scotland or from France or
from Norway or from Sweden or from
Denmark or from Holland or from Spain
or from Portugal or from Germany or
from northern Italy, tho bill would
never have got any Roadway. The I'M
migrants from these countries we have
become used TO. and there is hardly
man in congress but would like TO have
as many more immigrants from these
countries as We can get. But the H.
migrants who have come to us in large
numbers recently from countries in
eastern and southeastern Europe have
filled us with the apprehension that all
people have. toward persons of I'M
familiar ways and points of view deeply
antagoniStic TO our own Especially
have events in Russia during the past
two or three years caused US TO fear
receiving from that country number
Of immigrants such as might pcrCeptibly
change the makeup of our own nation.
Devised by Two Senators.
For the dcvising of bill which should
accomplish the two diverse results
which VIC wanted. credit is to be given
to two senator's of quiet ways who do
very little talking on the floor of the
senate. but are of the greatest value TO
the United States in their unostcntat!ouS
and steady devotion to the daily work
Of the senate.
Tho problem was TO devise A bill
which should admit as many as are
likely to come of the older races, whom
We do not fear. but should restrict To
Il smaller minimum than is now coming
the newer immigrants from eastern Eu-
rope. This end was achieved. after
much debate and discussion and after
strong pressure for complete cutting
off of all immigration, but determining
that we should permit TO enter the
United States. in each and every year.
as much as three percent of the num-
Der of immigrants from any one coun-
try or race as are already here.
Tho two senators who worked out this
device with care and high intelligence
arc Colt of Rhode Island and Dillingham;
Of Vermont. This three percent rule
will admit as many immigrants from
the British isles and from the other
countries Of western EurOpc rs are
likely to want TO come. bccaus" tho
number from these stocks ALREADY here
is very large. On the other hand. the
number Of immigrants from eastern
Europe will be kept down /" Il figure
much smaller than has recently been
coming.
Overwhelming Sentiment.
H.. ifnr IF m
has been passed by congress in recent
years which has had so much unanimity
Of opinion behind it. or which has given
such sense OF relief over Il remedy
found for difficult and embarrassing
situation. The records OF the senate
would have TO be searched for II long
time before Il case could be found in
which a bill has been passed hy IS ayes
to one nay. The one nay. as il happens,
came from Reed of Missouri. a senator
whose individuality is marked almost to
the point of eccentricity The three
hour speech which he mad" defending
his solitary position commanded re-
spect but the senate was in one OF those
moods where men will not DC moved by
argument, where they act not 40 much
on logic as on some deep primal instinct
Of racial preservation.
The bill Is, of course. d landmark in
American history. 1t is the first i'm"
We have taken u position contrary tn
free and liberal Welcome to immigrants.
1t may have Il Significance more deep
and mysterious than We ourselves now
understand. 1t may be associated with
an instinct to hold fast to what is cur
own at time when all mankind seems
10 have struck its tents and started on
tn" move. not merely physically, hut
socially and spiritually.