The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-10

| washington, D. e., May S.-Int
! United States is operating undel
an immigration law restricting tht
| number of immigrants from an!
country to 8 per cent of the mum
Der of persons of that nationality
settled in this country at the time
of the census of 1910.
This law was essential following
the end of the war. With Europe
laid waste, poor, its money greatly
deprecated, with little outlook OF
hope for millions of the poorer
! classes, it was known that These
millions would look to the western
world-the United States 6rst-as
land of promise, where they
might live and work. But in such
cases, American citizens had to be
looked after first Foreseeing the
end of the war boom TO business
and manufacturing the congress
decided to protect American labor
from cheap foreign competition.
A law of this sort, naturally hits
hard in individual cases. Excluded
aliens, or those ordered deported.
may appeal from these orders\ ia
many cases, the appeal being made
to the labor department. Until
comparatively lately, these appeals
have gone to the secretary of labor.
J. J. Davis, or the assistant secre-
tary of labor, E. J. Henning. So
great has this yoiume of business
become, however, that a board of
review has been appointed, which
passes upon all such cases, recon-
mending the final action which still
rests in the hands of the executive
heads of the labor department.
This board is faced with a ire
mendously hard and unpleasant set
of duties. Practically every ap
pealed alien case has behind it
dramatic, pathetic, or tragic phase
which cannot help but make an ap-
peal to anyone whose heart is not
OF granite. But the sworn duty of
this board of review is protection
of the United States and its citi-
zens. AS in any court of law, the
single case before the board is not
the sole consideration. If a point
or two is stretched here and there,
while it may be and usually is the
humane course to take, it estab-
fishes precedent which lawyers
would not be slow to use to the ut
most limits in future similar cases
before the board. The board is
faced with the necessity of appear
ing, on occasion, to be sold and
heartless toward some alien indi-I
vidual or family, but the underly-
ing reason is for the benefit of hun
nF thousands Of
viduals and families.
Propaganda Is Used.
The present immigration statute
has been the target of propaganda
by special racial interests which
have been hard hit by it. Also, |
many of the cases of appeal are
by lawyers. So often I
lawyers will make a heart-stirring !
appeal to allow some alien, ordered i
ieported, to remain in this coun- /
.ry. The order has been issued |
because the alien, who may be one !
If family of perfectly acceptable
is defective mentally |
IT physically. 1t is easy for a law
rer to dwell upon the undisputed
act that the hundred million odd |
people of the United States are not .
sOing to be harmed by admitting
his one manor boy or girl-and |
hus prevent misery and heartache
n breaking up a family.
1t would be the easy way and
he way dictated by considerations
f humanity and compassion to let
his one alien remain. Also, it
alls within the discretionary pow
rs the law gives to the secretary
f labor. But one decision of this
ort would bring down upon the
eads of the members of the board
f review an avalanche of similar
ases, with the reproachful fingers
t the lawyers in the cases pointing
D this single decision as a prece-
ent which should be followed. Il
Unfortunately for the peace of
lind of the labor department and
ne board of review, not all of the
teamship companies have tried I
ard to assist in carrying out the /
NV. Aliens in excess of national {
uotas have been brought in. These
DOR people must be sent back. The (
powers of the labor J
apartment do not extend so far ,
lat utter disregard of the law may !
e included. The offending steam ]