The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-14
WHY WE SHOULD BE ALARMED
ON THE IMMIGRATION CUES
TION


The Atlantic Monthly for February
contains quite an Illuminating article
under the head American Iisgivings.'
The article gives some information
in regard to the intelligence tests
given TO 1.72e,sss officers and enlisted
men of the army in 1877 and 1913.
The tests were of two types: one
adapted to the literate. and one TO the
iliiterate, non-English speaking and
uniformed
They were not tests of literary pro-
ficiency but simply of native intelli-
gence, and the results were proven
accurate by experience.
The grades were from A and 2, rep
resenting interior intelligence. 10 D
and z, indicating inferior to very in
ferior intelligence. Among the white
drafted men IL per cent We're found
superior, IS per cent average, and %
per cent inferior. Nearly half, or 47s
per cent, were found to have mental
ability below the standard of 10 years
These figures indicate problems of
appalling magnitude, and in view of
the importing hordes OF immigration it
is still more appalling to learn that
of the draft who were born in Poland
70 per cent were graded as inferior, of
those born in Italy SO per cent and OF
those born in Russia SO per cent.
OF the entire negro draft so per cent
were in the d grade, and SO per cent
under the mental age of IS.
To thsee subnormal or retarded peo-
pie who have already been admitted to
this country, or who are Americans by
right of birth we owe every possible
assistance to the end that they may
realize their fullest possible develop
ment. A man of low mentality may
be useful citizen and capable of do
ing work which the American society
greatly needs and he may be able TO
live a life of contentment.
But has not the time come when we
may consider. that we have introduced
enough of these elements into our
democracy?
In view of the varying treatment,
the unequal and discriminating appli-
cation of method which is needed to
deal with our own native white infer
Tor people; in view of the urgent char
'acter of our negro problem which must
be dealt with, why should we constant
ly introducing hundreds of thousands
of morons and feeble minded into our
population? Seventy per cent of the
Poles are not morons, nor So per cent
of the Italians. Why then, do we get
such a large proportion in our immi-
grafton from those countries? is a rea-
son.
Moral qualities may not bear much
relation to intellectual qualities, but it
is true that these inferior people fur
nlsh the vast majority of the popula-
ton OF our reform schools, jails, and
houses OF prostitution.
They are the drifters from job to
job; the patrons of municipal lodging
houses; the loafers on the street corr
ners; as well as the patient plodders
at the unskilled tasks" Meanwhile
civilization grows more complex.
The simple fact is that Europe is
dumping upon us the poorest that it
has to give. Many noble and highly in
telligent immigrants are arriving
perhaps / in every 100 is of such char
acter, The other SO come with hatred
of governmental power, unable to un-
derstand or appreciate our principles
and standards, and they bring chaos
into our society.
Some one long ago said that Amer
lea was an asylum for the oppressed.
Let us not permit ii to become an asy-
lum for the feeble minded, the criTni-
nal and the anarchists of Europe"