The New York herald., 1921-01-11
NEW VOICES JOIN
PROTEST AGAINST |
IMMIGRATION BAN
Senate Committee Hears
Many Discount Fears
Of Alarmists.
SAY PROOF is LACKING
Former NY. Representative
Cites New York Herald's'
Cables at Hearing.
MEN NEEDED ON FARMS
North Dakota Official Says
10000, 900 Acres Wait to
Be Cultivated.
MEN NEEDED ON FARMS
Special Despatch to THE New York HERALp'
New York Herald Bureau,
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. 1O.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., JAN lo.
Opposition to the passage of the
johnson bill enforcing drastic restrac-
ton for one year on foreign immigra-
rion to-day continued to be feature
of the hearing on the measure now in
progress before the Senate Immigra-
tion Committee.
1t was opposed by former officials in
the immigration service in Washing
ton and by former Representative
Bennet of New York, who was at one
time a member of the Immigration
Commission, and was fought by Off
clals Of the American Federation OF
Construction, representing the nation
wide building industry, on the ground
that it would increase the probable
shortage of unskilled labor.
Mr.. Bennett especially called attention
t. cable dispatches in THE NEW YORK
HERALD of a week ago showing how Inn
possible 1t would be for unduly large
numbers of Europeans to reach America
because of the shortage In ocean trans
portation facilities He emphasized
also more recent articles In THE NEW
YORK HERALD on the subject, particular
ly a news item showing that when the
Alfonso Kill, steamship from SPAN
arrived at the port of New YORK there
we're only seven passengers aboard and
almost no cargo, and there was no
Spanish emigration whatever.
Says Fears Are BaseIess.
There are few newspapers like
THE NEW YORK HERALD" said Mr.. Ben
net that seem to want the facts re-
garding the immigration situation, and
print them when they find them. III
more newspapers would do that we
would not have this wave of nysteria.
Discussing his objections to the john
son bill Mr.. Bennett said that most OF
the arguments that had been made In
its favor in the House report were based
mot upon proof but on assertions" that
they afforded no sound ass for action
by Congress.
"The suggested prohibition of foreign
immigration for one year would accom-
plsh nothing of constructive nature.
ne continued ut would simply keep out
a million people for a year. Our present
shortage OF unskilled labor would be In
creased. our farmers still would be
faced with their problem of Lack OF
labor and high cost of production
Mr.. Bennett denied assertions that the
class Of immigrants now coming In was
below the average In mentality, In ply
aique or in their opinions as TO our form
of government. He insisted that what
we needed was not SO much more law
as more law enforcement. He recon-
mended a cooperative system between
the States and the Federal Govement OF
"seective distribution OF immigrants.
in accordance with the desires of the
and the needs of the country. which
wants labor
He denied also that immigration was
a menace to large cities and said the
last census reports show the larger part
of Increased foreign popula alton has gone
TO cities Of from $4,000 to 1000 popu-
lation, rather than into such centres as
New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Dnkotan Says Men Needed.
Walter w. Light. Deputy Labor
Commissioner of North Dakota, told
the committee there we're about 10000
600 acres Of land in his State that
would not be farmed next year, that
would DC used II there we're labor
enough 70 do It, He urged the calling
OF conference of labor immigration
and agricultural officials of States and
the Federal Government to obtain COM
plete information properly classified
showing labor needs. as the basis for a
system of selective distribution OF allen