The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-08-24

drastic. The Commissioner Of lmnlgra-
ZION, W. ". Husband, herewith tells US
the why Of the matter-and the results
obtained and those expected,
It is doubtful whether any other Am
c-ican problem presents so many diff
cult and even bewildering aspects Of
does the problem of immigration. Eco
Monies. politics, the public health and
other Fundamental factors Of u civil
cation enter into the question, and with
such a conelomeration Of interests in
the crucible so obviously a difficult, II
not impossible task, to evolve a policy
which will be even messurably satisfae-
tory to that many sided entity commonly
called the public.
This immigration controversy began
with the first settlement in Virginia and
Massachusetts,. and while there have
been periods Of storm and calm during
the more than three centuries which
have interviewed, nevertheless the same
controversy, involving practically the
same factors, has continued down to
the present time and there is every
promise that it viii go on indefinitely.
When the second contingent Of set
tiers came to the Massachusetts, coast
it was said by one OF their predecessors
that they were "in all appearances not
fit for an honest mans company" Only
last week at Ellis Island a thoughtful
American. looking at a typical group
Of present day immigrants undergoing
inspection. said to me as there no pos
sible way Of keeping this class of peo-
pie out Of the country" 1t has been
the same from the beginning and prob
ably will so continue as long as Amer
lea continues to attract the people Of
other lands.
The Open Door.
Practically all Of the Colonies enact
ed restrictive immigration laws, some
Of which clearly reflect the fears and
also the intolerance Of the founders,
but the new republic took an opposite
course and for a century following the
Revolutionary war maintained an open
door policy with respect TO all classes
and conditions Of mankind from every
land and cline. There was, Of course,
continued and, at times, violent opposl-
ton to this policy, but throughout the
century the ideal Of America as a re-
fuge for the worlds oppressed pre-
vailed, although it must be admitted
that on occasions the refugees were
treated with no little ~harshness.
Foreign nations banished their Grim
inals TO America and communities sent
US their paupers. We complained and
complained bitterly but continued to
receive them until the year 1882 when
a law wa passed which denied admis-
sion to idiots, insane persons, criminals
fother than political criminals) and
persons likely to become a public
charge. Having closed the door against
four classes Of aliens, congress was moi
reluctant to add others TO the category
of those deemed to be physically, men
tally, morally or economically undeslr'
able until now there are some thirty
legal reasons of one sort or another
Why an immigrant may not be admit
ted. The first Chinese exclusion Law
was also enacted in 1882 and subse
quently there has developed a policy Of
restricting, or in a large measure pro
hibiting, all Oriental immigration.
Restriction Needed.
The peoples Of Euorpe and Asiatit
Turkey, however, continued to enjo!
unlimited access to the open door e..
provided they met the various test
prescribed by law, and Europe always
furnished more than 80 per cent Of oul
immigrants. Following the advent o.
southern and eastern Europe as th'
chief source Of supply, our immigra
ton grew to unprecedented proper
tons, and with this development can't
a widespread and insistent demand fol
restriction. Statistics showed tina
about one-third Of the immigrants Wit
come from these sources were unable
TO read in any language and, according
ly, the so-called "literacy test" beeam'
the f~avorite weapon Of the restriction
lists. The exclusion Of illiterate alien
was agitated in and out Of congress fot
twenty-five years and three presidents
Cleveland, Taft and Wilson, yetoe'
bills which 50 provided, but in 1917,
wa added to the law over Presiden
Wilson's veto.
Following the World war the deman'
for further restriction became SO in
tense and unmistakable that the Hous'
Of Representatives responded by pass
ing g bill suspending practically al
immigration for a period Of fourteel
months. The Senate was more conserv
alive, however. and substituted tn
Dillingham; per centum limit plan
which finally prevailed and the social
ed quota law" which has provoke
such widespread interest during tn
past year, went into effect on May il
1921, and recent legislation has contin
ued its operation until June 30, 1924.
Briefly stated, the Dillingham; &C
provides that the number Of aliens 0
any nationality who may be admitte
TO the United States in any fiscal yea
shall be limited to three per centur
Of the number Of persons Of such ma
tionality who were resident in the Uni
ted States according to the census o
1910. Nationality is determined b
country of birth, and in effect the la
applies only to Europe, Asiatic Turke!
Persia, Asiatic Russia, Africa and Aus
tralasia.
To Limit Influx.
The admitted purpose of the law j
to limit immigration from souther
and eastern Europe, without interior
ing with the normal movement frol
the northern and western Europea
countries, which In immigration pal
lance include the British Isles, Scand
nsvia, Germany. France, Netherland
Belgium and Switzerland. Prior TO tn
war 1900 0 or more immigrants wei
admitted from the first named source
In a normal year. but under the Dill
ingham &C, only 1853 200 may be ADM
ted annually from such sources. 0
the ether hand, the normal annual in