Evening journal., 1922-06-27

"Uncle Harry why have there
been so many news articles In the
paper lately about the immigration
question:" asked Joe.
"Chiefy because Congress recent
1y extended the Immigration Re
striction Law for two years." said
Uncle Harry. "a little over a year
ago, Congress passed this law which
limits the number OF aliens who arc
permitted TO enter the United States
TO take up their residence here to
three per cent. OF the number of the
particular nationality IN each case
resident IN our country as shown by
the 1910 census. This law as origi-
nally passed would have expired on
June 80. Realizing that conditions
in Europe and Asia were still very
unsettled, and believing that the Re-
striction Law had worked satisfac-
torily during the past year, Congress
voted TO extend the law for two
years more-that IS until 1924, June
80. By that time it is believed that
the problems facing the various ma
tions and conditions generally
throughout the world will be more
definitely adjusted, Congress will be
able to enact something like per-
manent immigration law"
Necessity for Restriction.
'Why IS it necessary to restrict
immigration?" asked Helen. "It
can't be that our country IS so over
crowded, because know from COM
pairing the area of the United States
with the areas OF many Of the Euro
pean countries, then comparing their
respective populations, that our
country isn't really crowded at all
and that we have room for many
more people"
That's a very interesting point you
have made, Helen. In fact It is the
very heart OF the entire immigration
question. Your statement that the
United States Is in no sense con-
gested in population as compared
with most Of the European countries
is correct. Unfortunately the frnmi-
grafton question has gotten ahead Of
us, so to speak, here in the United
States. We have plenty of land and
could support millions OF new citi-
zens. The trouble is that we haven't
yet learned how to distribute or
citizens as they have in the past
been coming into our ports. The
result Is that we have our seaport
cities and big cities like New York.
Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore
crowded and congested with people.
we have the same problem in inland
cities Ike Pittsburgh and Chicago.
and to a smaller extent. IN the Pa
ciic Coast cities like Seattle, San
Francisco and Los Angeles.
Before the World War immi-I
grants were coming into the United
States at a rate OF more than a mill
Hon a year. During the war immi-
grafton dropped down to as low as
10000 in 1913. But It began to
climb in 1919, the year after the ar
reached close. to half n mil
lion in 1920 and went past 100000
IN 1921. mean the year ending
June 80. 1921. when the law restrict |
ing immigration went into effect.
Because Of the poverty in Europe
as a result Of the war, It was evil
dent that immigrants were going TO
pour into the United states IN great !
er numbers than before tho war.
Most Of the new corners would nat
urally have settled in the cities
where the greater number Of their |
fellow countrymen now live. This !
would have meant greater conges-
ton in the cities and while the /
United States IS better off than the /
European nations. VIC have been |
suffering from a business depress-
sion with a great amount Of unem-
At times as many as A.
BOO. 900 men and women have been
out of work during the last few
years. If folks living here and
knowing the language and the Gus