Evening journal., 1921-12-29
VICTIMS OF GREED.

WYE have no doubt that most Deawareans that
w sponsblity for the condition existing at Ellis
Island during the holidays should be fixed and punish
ment meted to those who guilty
Robert E. Todd New York Commissioner Of lmmigra-
tou is reported to have said just before Christmas;
II know this: The island will be nled beyond capacity
and there will be thousand two immigrants on ships
in the harbor awaiting chance to get TO the island"
The New York Herald reporting the situation De-
cember 20 declared II would be the goomiest Christmas
ever known for those who sought refuge here"
And the punishment TO which these immigrants are
subjected extends beyond the holidays for it is stated
that families who sold their little cottages or novels and
spent practically all their money in getting TO seaports
and paying steamship fares their arrival here had the
prospect Of prosperous existence In America
changed TO a vision Of return In winter time to their
own impoverished countries without the homes they
Sold and the work they had to enable them to exist"
It would appear mat these poor creatures have been
the victims Of lnsensae greed and the recommendation
OF the Secretary Of Labor that certain large foreign
shipping line be nned the limit for its share in bringing
such situation about pretty fair indication OF where
the responsibility may be located
II appears that the majority OF these immigrants
knew nothing Of the Dillingham; immigration law restrict
ing newcomers to three per OF their racial stocks al
ready in mis- country.
But this Is no fault Of the immigration Commission,
which has done its utmost to spread knowledge OF the
law in Europe and which has issued monthly statements
showing how these quotas were being filled
The fault apparently lies with the foreign shipping
concerns which have crowded their vessels from steer
age to promenade-deck with passengers wishing to es-
cape the unhappness OF the Old World and to begin life
anew in America
They have herded into these ships ike cattle with
out the slightest regard for their origin and with no in
tmation as TO whether not they would be held up at
the island because their racial quota had been exhausted
The idea seems to been get the money and take
chance"
Certainly the shipping companies could not plead ignor-
ance OF the immigration law or how II working out
In the case Of the Hungarans the immigration officials
say announcement was made December first that the Hun
garan quota was complete, and some time after the
Aquatania took large number aboard FOR transportation
to this country.
The affair has resulted In appeals being made by tho
friends and relatives OF many Of these thus imposed
on by the shipping companies to permit their entry In
disregard OF The law.
With respect to lot It is asserted that II they are
compelled to return to their native land they will be
massacred But II the law is thus nouted' the shppns
companies will profit by their greed and niquity
That was the chance they took.
They should be punished, and the plight q their VIC
TINS is their own heads.
II is perhaps well TO remark this connection that In
the enactment OF our and more stringent mmigra-
tion law there was no purpose 10 make life harder FOR
residents OF foreign lands
our sole purpose was to protest the American worS'
man from an unjust disastrous inflow OF cheap labo
al time when our own unemployment problem is dim
cult to solve
While we have the deepest sympathy for the unfortu
nate everywhere we are under obligations to look afte
the welfare Of our own unfortunates nrst