New-York tribune., 1922-12-17
Davis Outlines
Plan to Solve
Alien Problem
Selection of Emigranis by
Series Of Tests Before
Leaving Native Lands Is
Part of Method Urged
Education a Big Factor
AmericanizatiOn in Fullest
Sense for Immigrants in
u. s. Is Declared a Need


WASHINGTON.
Complete Americanization Of the
1000 0.OOON aliens who are now in this
country. and the selection Of immi-
grants hereafter seeking admission 10
the Unlted\ States before they leave
their nativs lands 20 determine
whether they will develop into good
American citizens Is the hope Of Sec
retary Of Labor James J. Davis.
A system Of ,vrOllment and sduea-
,ion Of the Alient( NOV residing in this
country 80 they may more rapidly
become aequAintep with tho prin-
eIples and aims ofHho government Of
the United States. Secretary Davis
maintains, will eradicate radieallsm
in this country.
Strict inspection at the source Of
immigrants seeking admission 20 tho
United States, the LabNr Secretary
asserts, will make the task\of develop
ing worthy nAturalized citizens Of the
United States moro easy 20 accom-
plish.
Secretary Davis would have Con-
gress enact legislation that wosCd fur
ther safeguard this country from un-
desirable aliens. The greatest \fault
with the present immigration syltom,
Mr. Davis said. is that It gives Nthe
privilege Of selection TO the severe gn
powers Of other nations Instead pf
the United States selecting the alieny
desired, foreign governments have the'
privilege Of selecting the immigrants
whom they Will permit TO come 20 tho
United States.
Passport System Analysed
"The passport system at the present
time" Secretary Davis said, "ls III
adapted 70 our needs. II Is time that
we had something 10 say--if we are 10
continue 10 rely upon alien labor for
the development Of our resources
about the kind Of emigrants to be given
the privilege Of taking part In our ma
tIonal affairs. Instead OF accepting
tho passport given by foreign govern
ments we should set a standard. Those
qualified to enter should be selected
on the other side and given our eertifi-
cate Of qualification. To accomplish
this purpose legislation should be
enacted providing for the examination
abroad Of prospective emigrants b.
giving The following tests:
81. Blood-To determine the general
condition Of health, latent diseases,
etc.
"2. Physieal-A physical inventory
Of the strength and condition, brawn
and muscle, affecting ability 20 earn
a living.
"3. Mental-That our public institu-
tIons may not be filled with men, wom-
en- and children to whom we owe no
national duty, while our own are not
properly cared fort but further still,
that our good American blood shall not
become polluted with imbecility, in
sanity and idiocy. We must keep the
American race sturdy in mind as we'll
as in body.
q. Character; This Is not least, for
no matter what examinations might be
given at our ports Of entry We could
not be assured that the immigrant was
not a criminal. a teacher or believer In
anarchy, or an immoral person. BY
having our own representative verify
the standing Of n prospective smigrant
in his home community we can very
nearly determine the kind OF citizen
We may be able TO make Of him; and
n he bhould not ri = are up after he
gets here, then he should be sent back
TO the country from which he came.
Bars in Path Of Justice
~The present immigration statutes
bar aliens over sixteen years old who
are unable 10 read In some language
or dialect. This test Of llteraey, and
the provisions which exclude the men
tally defective and the insane are the
only provisions which prescribe men
tai standards for these future citizens.
A certain physical standard Is OF
course, also required BY the existing
laws, but all these tests are made at
the ports Of entry after the immigrant
has broken up his home abroad and
saeriheed much to accomplish the
journey. Under many eireumstanees
(. Is hard TO enforce the Law and send
them back when they fail TO qualify.
This diaieulty is made greater by the
intereesslon Of relatives and attorneys
on this side pleading for their admit
tanee. i.
On addition TO the Importance OF
giving America the right to choose
her future residents from among those
applying, two other good results viii