Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-02
UNDESIRABLES BUT HUMAN.
BY Frederic J. Haskin

New York. Dec. lin few days
Jackie Schumacher, a little I2-year-
old cripple boy, must 20 back alone
to Scotland. All Of Jackie's family,
who are devoted 10 him, live In White
Plains. N. Y. and nc hasn't a single
relative or friend left IN his native
country. Nevertheless, he must 20
back. American immigration Of
ficials have said 20.
| Jackie's father. accompanied by an
elder son and daughter, came to this
country from Scotland soon after the
war ended. Mrs. Schumacher and
Jackie. with another boy and girl. did
not arrive. in New York until the
/ Immediately raised an objection 10
Jackie's admittance upon the ground
that he was defective. and detained
him at Ellis Island.
Through the aid Of friends and the
good Offices OF n Congressman. the
family was able 10 obtain the boys
release by filing n bond guaranteeing
that he would not become n public
charge. Later this bond was extend
ed. still the matter was not per-
manently settled The family was
constantly haunted by the fear tina,
eventually Jackie would have 20 go
that an immigration officer would
come and get him. Several months
ago, Mrs. Schumacher died. The doc
tor who attended her said that her
death was due to constant fear and
worry over the fate Of her son.
nj ruf A
general roundup Of detectives wal
recently ordered by the immigration
authorities. and Jackie is only one o.
n large number OF forlorn human
beings who are 10 be disposed Of In
the usual cold-blooded. arbitrary man
yer at Ellis Island. On the list OF un
desirabies awaiting deportation ar
likewise mothers and infants who vii
be torn from their families now re
siding in this country; husbands ant
fathers, prevented by various techni
calitIes from Joining their familie
here. and mentally and physically de
fective children who are TO be cas-
back upon lands where they n
. longer have homes.
? The blame for this cruel and inhu
! man treatment of aliens does not be
long TO our immigration officials. The
have no personal influence or author
ity and merely act as automatons
carrying out the immigration law
,, Neither does the blame lie in III
laws. which are necessary evils for In
protection Of the nation from larg
masses Of undesirable citizens. BI
. blame must descend upon a govern
ment which fails 20 provide the near
10 set aside the laws when IL is see
4. that in individual cases they cause ir
!, tolerable hardship.
: Relentless Law.
o Even the Secretary Of Labor is VII
g tually powerless 10 interfere with III
o immigration machinery, once 10 is ~
o in motion. The late Secretary Of Il
4 Dor Wilson went about as far az I
could when ne issued the following il
n structions 10 immigration officials:
'e While regulation and exclusion. ar
>. therefore detention are necessary
] respect Of immigration" he said "
Q should be understood by all who pal
9 ticipate In administering these law
q that they are not intended 10 be per
slizing. II is with no unfriendline,
$ TO aliens that immigrants are detaine
n and some of them excluded, but sol,
ly for the protection OF our own peop
= and our own institutions. Indifference
g then. TO the physical or mental con
n fort OF these wards of ours from 9th,
lands should not be tolerated"
That these instructions are not a
10 ways carefully observed is evidence
q by the numerous complaints that ha'
arisen on that score. Indeed, tn,
have recently become so vocifero
that the British government. we a
informed, has fled protest with o
State Department. The immigrati
officials claimed that they do all tn
can to minimize the necessary har
ships inflicted upon aliens and
abolish all that are unnecessary, b
that they are handicapped by mad
uuate facilities.
In other words. the just al
equitable treatment of aliens is pr
vented, according to one immigrati
cfficial, by the sllmness of Co
gressional appropriations. unwarraI
ably limited, in view OF the fact tn
the income from arriving aliens
head money alone. since the beginni
of the immigration service. has
ceeded the total running expenses