The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-03-09
SELL DISCUSSES
ELLIS ISLAND"
IS A BIG PROBLEM
DR.. Sell Tells D. A. R. of
Visit Among Immigrants
Last Summer.

H. T. Sell, pastor of the First Congre-
gationa1 church, in an address before
Kenosha chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, at the Elks' club
house Monday afternoon. DR.. Sell sub
stituted for members Of the Old Set
tiers club who had been booked to
discuss Pioneer Kenosha," but who
were unable to be present until some
later date.
DR.. Sell visited at Ellis Island dur
ing the summer of 1921 and he was
able to give a vivid word picture OF
conditions as he saw them. He took
issue with the writer of series of
articles in a Chicago newspaper last
summer who had posed as a young
Irish immigrant and then written an
article about appalling conditions at
Ellis Island. DR.. Sell was at Ellis Is
land at practically the same time as
the writer of the articles and he de-
clares that he saw none of the terrible
conditions described. He said that ma
turally one who had been at the island
as an immigrant would have a slightly
different viewpoint than one who had
been just a visitor but even with that
anticipated difference in opinion he
declared that he could see no basis for
many of the statements made by the
writer.
Mingles With Immigrants.
pr.osell was given the privilege of
visiting every nook and Granny on the
island and he declared that there was
no attempt to conceal anything. He
visited the various buildings and
watched the gatherings of immigrants
and officials. In none of these visits,
he declared, did he see any discourtesy
nor did he find the quarters anything
but sanitary and clean. The food
served was well-cooked and nourishing
and. served at reasonable prices. Meth
err could Dr Sellunderstandl thesstate-
ment thatcthere was, am effort to take
financial advantage of the foreigner.
He said that exchange values and the
fares to various cities were posted on
bulletin boards.
Not only did Dr.. Sell visit the vari-
Gus buildings on the island, but he
was permitted to go aboard the light
ers which brought the immigrants from
the steamers. He was accompanied by
an Irish attendant who spoke twenty
languages and through whom he asked
questions Of hundreds of immigrants,
none of whom appeared in the least
sullen or disheartened because of i'll
treatment.
Must Take Action.
"We are faced with mighty prob
lem" declared DR.. Sell. UNLESS some
action is taken to secure law to re-
place the Dillingham; law which goes
out of effect June Goth we are likely
toebe faced byaa problem of migration
rather than immigration The war has
produced such effects in Europe that
with the removal of the 800 restriction
whole peoples would come to America
to make their homes. 1t would not be a
question Of handling few thousand
immigrants-we would have an influx
of millions. The melting pot would no
H.
the question of the assimilation of the
foreigner or the loss of American
ideals and customs. At present steam
ship companies require double fare to
pay for the return voyage If the lmmi-
grant should not be accepted. With
the letting down of the bars only one
way fare would be required and this
alone would make it possible for many
more people to come to America. For
eign steamship companies, people with
relatives and friends whom they desire
to bring over, and organizations inter
ested in cheaper labor are all working
to stif1e any legislation which might
take the place of the Dillingham; law.
There is not much time left to pre-
pare to combat this acute problem and
it is up to every person interested in
the future of the United States to take
some action"
Enjoy Young Soprano.
The music for the afternoon, was
furnished by Mary Menashi, four
teen-year-o Italian girl who has a
ClSdI anu SWEEP
voice. She sang go Solo Mo" Mrs.
Helen Dunn accompanied her.
Various repor S were given and an
amendment to the bylaws provided for
election of officers in May instead Of
in June. The previous decision not to
contribute to the fund for the manuals
which are being distributed to immi-
grants was reconsidered and it was
voted that the local chapter pay its
quota of SIT. Mesdames Otis L. Tren-
airy, Robert Whitaker and Gust Mittle-
staed were named ticket committee
for the iona Gale lecture which will
be given at the First Baptist church
in May. The definite date will be an
nounced later. The landmarks COM
mittee has secured Mrs. John Dexhei-
mer, regent of the Ft.5 Atkinson chap
ter and state chairman of old trails
and historic spots, to address the Ke-
nosha chapter at the April Bird meeting
which will be held at the Elks' club
house. Mrs. Robert Whitaker and Mrs.
Harold Trowbridge will be hostesses.
WOMAN CALLED FIRST.