Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-10-14

Filled, so Vessels Wait Outside New
York Harbor Until Midnight When
the Bars Are let Down for Another
Month-Quotas OF Africa, Palestine,
Greece, Albania and Armenia Filled.
Racing across the Atlantic toward
the gates Of the United States. scores
of huge ocean liners have been break
Ing all speed records In a effort to
land their cargocs of human freight
before the immigration bars 20 up
again. These races mean freedom TO
the fleeing hordes from war-torn and
poverty stricken Europe and Asin, pro-
vided they can land before the quota
/ for their particular nationality is filled.
/ otherwise, they must return again to
the land from which they fled their
earnings spent, and with the chance
for freedom in the land of promise
barred 10 them.
While the big rush of immigrants he
gan July !, when the bars were let
down after an almost complete stop
page of immigration, II continues to
\ lesser degree each month, and VIII
continue until the annual quotas are
| filed. July opened a fresh page and
every steamship company broke all
records TO land as many immigrants
as possible. Then the bars went up
! for a month until August !, when the
race was continued. and the first OF
each succeeding month will see the
same mad rush to enter the gates of
the promised land. until word comes
from Washington that the entire quota
is filled, and then there will be no
admissions until July ]. 1923.
Determined by Quotas.
Americas present immigrant policy
allows to enter every year as immi-
grants only three per cent Of the ma
/ tives Of any one country resident In
the United States Mt the time Of t.e
census Of 1910 The quota for 1922,
the fiscal year ending June 30. was
almost completely filed In the first
| five months, there being provision
that 90 per cent of the yearly quota
may be admitted each month until the
quota has been filed. Hence. since that
time the bars had been up and immi-
grafton had been nj standstill. But
July meant another year, and another
quota.
Already the quotas Of Africa, Palcs-
tine Greece. Albania. Armenia, and
"other Asia" are filled. For month
no more natives of these countries will
be admitted. and then will start new
rush. In fact. steamships on the other
side OF the Atlantic are preparing their
sailing schedules so that they may slip
In as soon as the bars are again lifted.
| Arriving on this side, the ships lie
outside the harbor until after midnight
Oh the day when the bars are let down,
and then comes the last and most eX-
I citing dash TO land their passengers at
! quarantine. where the immigrant
4 leaves the vessel and boards one of the
huge harges which stand alongside TO
take them to Ellis Island.
Examined at Ellis Island.
Ellis Island, the gateway 10 America
is the borderland to the immigrant.
Once past the island and all is well,
! but to many Ellis Island is their one
| glimpse of the promised land. Nearly
every nationality under the sun may
/ be found at the island, either newly
arrived or else being held for observn-
ton. a veritable babel of tongues is
! heard, for few of the immigrants are
so frightened by the strangeness of
Q .sOn
not talk.
AT Ellis Island the immigrants are
classified and tagged. and undergo a
most searching physical, mental. and
financial examination. Dreaded typhus
trachoma, and other diseases are care.
1 fully guarded against, and any imml.
grant showing the slightest symptom of
any Of these diseases Is Immediately
barred. A staff Of trained physicians
and nurses Is constantly on duty TO
guard against any one with communica'
bic diseases slipping in.
Uncle Sam IS also very particular
about the financial resources of the
aliens who are constantly knocking
at the gates, and unless they can prove
that they will not become public
charges they are refused admittance.
Many, using their life savings to pay
for their transportation, and not know
Ing OF the stringent rulings. are turned
back, TO begin life all over again In
the towns which they had hoped 20
leave far behind them.
Mentality tests are no less severe, so,
even though the vessel carrying him
does win the race. the immigrant is
never sure that he will walk past the
gates into the promised land until he
has passed the tests at Ellis Island
and pronounced fl TO become citizen
Of the United States.
Many Brides Arrive.
A noticeable thing about the ship
loads OF immigrants constantly arriv-
ing is the number Of brides coming to
meet their husbands. Many OF these
are "picture brides" most of whom
| haf eEt.n