New-York tribune., 1921-01-02
How to Treat the F Foreigner
The Author Pleads for More Facts and Less
Prejudice in Solving This Problem

tional and international affairs whose
services could be combined In an In
stitute If immigration research which
would serve this purpose at home Its
immediate creation Is important, for
there already exists 1T Washington an
immense amount Of valuable informa-
ton concerning the foreign born in
America, the significance of which few
now in charge Of 1t are equipped to
use. Such governmental organizations
as the war loan organization Of the
Treasury Department, the Committee
on Public Information, the Council of
National Defense, the various exten-
sions of the War Department, the Bu-
reau of Naturalization, the war btu
reaus Of the Department Of Labor, the
Alien Property Custodian, the Bureau
of Education and the Secret Services of
various departments have collected q
vast amount Of information which, if
put at the disposal of such body,
would be Of inestimable value in help
ing The country to Formulate a sound
immig igration policy. Furthermore, its
/ preser rvation for future use is a mat
ter Of primo Importance, because the
great sums expended to secure it are
not likely to be duplicated. An effort
should therefore be made at an early
time to classify this information and
to bring it up to date.
psrmanent Rndv NA.d.d
ut is to be hoped that il America
concludes such necessity for informa-
tion and analysis exists it will
follow some such plan as has been
indicated, and to degree at least avoid
the mistakes of the past, where ponder
Gus commissions have been appointed
to hold hearings, the net results of
which have been reams of opinions, but
few facts. The work of such comr- is
sions has usually been temporary 4
has depended upon ephemeral pup4c
interest or has continued until their
appropriations were exhausted. 1t is
not an investigation commission tina.
is needed, but the assembling Of per
A0ASAt, P0A tAoN1l DOuy VI SClCL-
tific minds, whose business 1t will be
to function every week in the year, to
gather facts as needed, to pursue rou-
tine studies, to test and to analyze
propositions and to form a center to
which public opinion, perplexed on
my phase of the subject, can turn for
enlightenment. Until then we shall
perhaps blunder along, following this
prejudice or that whim, and this the
ory or that argument"
AS an added argument for vigorous,
intelligent action on our part the
author shows how other countries are
already looking ahead and taking steps
to regulate and profit by immigration
and emigration. Canada and the South
American countries are taking steps to
attract certain classes of immigrants.
whose labor, they believe, is needed
for the development of their natural
resources. The European countries are
planning to direct, in some measure,
the emigration of their subjects, and to
control them, as far as possible, after
they have arrived in their new homes.
The old vexing problem of dual allie
glance threatens to raise its head
again. Meanwhile, America allows her
course to be determined by sentiment
and prejudice, rather than by careful
examination of the facts in the case.
Miss Kellor seems amply justified in
her statement that "thpre are eviNer r O q
which indicate that the day Of the un~
regulated flow of immigration is pass
ing, and that it's conscious utilization
as an element in the economic ex-
pansion of nations, is approaching"
Very few Americans appreciate the
strength of the ties that bind the i'm
migrant to his native land after he has
\ arrived in America. The author gives
\ the following graphic thumbnail
| sketch of the life of the unassimilated
\ alien
H Strength of Racial Ties
h "The immigrant is met at Ellis
\ Island by racial missionary who
\ speaks his language, and who, having
\ the advantage of knowing his friend.
Y at home, at once establishes cordial re
: lations. The immigrant is then LODGED
/ in hotel where the atmosphere re-
minds him of his native country. Thus
the impressions which he receives con
corning America come to him frs,
through Old World memories and eY