The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-06-06


Ramihcations to Europe.
NEW YORK, N. "a surprising
expose of the operations of an inter-
national ring OF swind1ers. who prey
upon immigrants newly arrived in
America, has just been made by Harry
H. Schlacht, formerly chairman of the
United States welfare commission at
Ellis Island, the great gateway at
New York city through which hun
dreds of thousands of immigrants pass
each year.
Mr.. Schlacht reveals the existence
of we'll organized band of suave, de-
bonair rogues who with affiliations
reaching into almost every country in
Europe from which the more prosper
Gus immigrants come, has succeeded
within the last two years in hlching
many millions of dollars from ignorant
newcomers to America
Pose as Bankers.
The most successful plan is conduct
ed under the guise of international
banking" The tricksters are sufficient
ly familiar with human psychology to
know that a banker is looked up to
with awe by the average peasant and
workman from Europe. They know
that the average immigrant has wife
and family, sweetheart, parents, or
brothers, and sisters in the "old coun-
try" for whom they have promised to
send as soon as possible.
The immigrant is not greatly aston
ished when, Immediately after his ar
rival and before he has learned that
money docs not grown on bushes in
America, he is approached by a smooth
stranger, speaking his own tongue,
who introduces himself as a banker
and presents neatly engraved card
to back up his assertion. The stranger
has already learned from the records
the name of the immigrant and he
soon firmly establishes himself as a
friend"
Has Unique Scheme.
The banker" offers to bring to
America the family of the immigrant
and shows how it will cost very little.
He tells the newcomer that he is
sending to Europe for the families of
few other friends" and, if the inn
migrant will simply turn over what
ready cash he may have, he will be
glad, when he goes back to the old
country, to look up the family and ar
range for their transportation.
Lonely and disconsolate, the imnli-
grant sees the opportunity OF bringing
to America the wife or sweetheart or
father and mother, and unhcsitatingly
he trusts the banker" with his saw
iHgs, and gives him also letter to the
people back home.
Not long after a Representative" of
the banker" actually does sail for Eu-
rope. He is armed with the names and
addresses furnished by scores of immi-
grants. His sailing is step toward
the climax of a campaign extended
over several weeks of preparation in
this country, during which time hum
dreds of newly arrived immigrants
have been approached by members of
the swindling band.
On the other side this representative
OF the rogues hunts out one by one
the relatives to whom he has been
given letters and messages. Assuming
that it is a father and mother, living
perhaps out in the garden lands be-
yond Naples, whomN the immigrant
wishes to have with him in America,
the representative brings untold joy
when he comes as the agent of their
Antonio, who has been so successful
in America. He presents Antonio's let
ter and all suspicious are lulled.
He tells them that Antonio has spent
most of his money in buying and fix
ing up a beautiful home where they
may spend their declining days, and
that he has been commissioned by An
tonic to advise them to sell their own
home, as they will no longer need it,
turn over the money to him and he
will arrange for their immediate pass
age to America.
Make Long Trip.
The parents, almost without fail,
"fall' for this argument, sell their all,
and the smooth stranger takes them
to the seacoast, where they board
vessel as steerage passengers bound
for America. The agent travels first
class, and when the ship reaches Ellis
Island he quickly disappears, leaving
perhaps hundreds of foreigners strand
ed without a penny He has made a
neat profit from each person he
brought over, and they are left in a
strange land, with strange customs
and strange language. Often their
loved ones here do not know that
they are at the island, and frequently
they are sent back to their native
lands, to begin the battle of life all
over again.
Usually the international bankers"
to keep within the law or at
least to surround themselves with cir
that it is hard to convict
them of the felonies they undoubtedly
commit They actually deliver the
given them by the Antonios
on this side. They actually make the
trip across to the homes of the rela-
tives abroad. They promise in return
for the money raised for them on the
other side nothing more than to bring
the relatives to this country. OF course
they ornament and elaborate it with
many glowing verbal promises. But
they do not make these promises on
paper or before witnesses, and at any
rate the unfortunates just arriving in
this country do not know the meth
DDS OF making formal complaints.
This is just one of the swindling
operations Mr. Schiacht has revealed.
There are many others and there are