Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
Immigration Restrictions

r T was ingeniously argued before the
American Federation of Labor that there
should be no immigration bars to the adj
mission of skilled workers. because the more
of these there were drawn to America the
fewer there would be in Europe to maintain
foreign, competition with labor on this side
Of the water. But the Federation, uncon-
voted overwhelmingly for continued restric-
tons.
This is one Of many representative voices
lifted against letting in more immigrants
than the country's economic life can well abb
sorb. The so-called "Three Per Cent law,
which was enacted in the spring Of 1921 as
an emergency measure, operative until June
80, 1922, bids fair to remain the governing
policy for years Immediately ahead, although
it may and assuredly ought to be modified in
certain needlessly harsh particulars The
law limits the number of aliens admissible to
three per cent of the number Of the given
nationality lin each. case resident in the
United States as shown by the 1910 census"
Alien is defined as 'any person not native
born or naturalized, exclusive Of Indians not
taxed, and citizens of the islands under
United States Jurisdiction Exceptions are
made for one-year residents of Canada, New
Foundland, Cuba, Mexico, and of Central and
South America countries; for the employees
of foreign Governments, along with Their
families and servants; and for visitors on
business or pleasure. 1t is stipulated further
that not more than twenty per cent Of each
nationality may be admitted In any one
month, and that preference shall be given to,
relatives and fiancees of United States c1ti-,
zens, of applicants for citizenship, and OF
persons eligible by service in the United
States military or naval forces between April
6, 1917, and November H., 1918.
These restrictions, together with the liter
acy tests and the positive exclusions against
criminals, anarchists and the physically and
mentally incanable. afford protection far
more nearly adequate than that Of our i'm
migration laws prior to the World War. 1t
is doubtful, however, that the social and civic
Importance of the problem, as distinguished
from it's economic aspect, Is yet duly appre-
ciated In years gone, and even now In some
quarters, the idea prevailed that as many
immigrants should be admitted as American
industry could assimilate. The truth is that
only as many should be admitted as Ameri-
can institutions and ideals can ass1milate.
Not merely the finding of jobs, but the be-
coming of citizens is the rightful goal to set
for those who come to dwell within our
bounds Nothing short Of that is fair either
to them or to us. In the past we have ad-
mitted millions who have been crowded to-
gether in the narrow, sunless, wretched
streets of great cities, there to remain as
verify alien to American idea1> OF government
and social relationships as when first they
set foot on these shores. Knowing naught OF
our history and next to nothing or our Ian
guage they cannot understand our institu-
tions: they do not conceive the primary re-
sponsibilities of citizenship; they neither
contribute to the common veal nor share
therein, save in the matter of creature neces-
stiles. This unjust and perilous~ condition
of affairs ought not to be continued AS far
as it exists already it should be reformed by
patient, sympathetic, thorough-going process
es of Americanization; and for the future 1t
should be prevented by we'll considered i'm
migrant admission laws.