The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-07-03
More Convinced Than
Ever That u. S. Should
Enter League of Ma
tiOnS.
BY HARRY WARD.
International News Service Staff Cor
respondent.

BY HARRY WARD.
International News Service Staff Cor
respondent.
Washington, July 3|"Immigration
in America, from the earliest days to
the present time, has been called the
greatest movement of people in the
history of the world. But changed
conditions, not only in our own coun-
try but in the world at large, have
MADE the present problem of handling
immigration entirely different from
what it was forty years ago, or even
ten years ago, and far more diff
cult.
Secretary of Labor James J. Davis
thus strawberries one of the greatest
problems now confronting the United
States. I'VE no longer have the un-
limited room and opportunities for
the millions that used to come to our
Shores" said Secretary Davis, under
whose department the immigration
laws are administered. Every die
tate of reason compels US to use the
utmost care in the selection of our
Immigrants.
seem strange that the Immigration
Service of the United States should
be under the jurisdiction of the Sec
rotary of Labor. A single reminder
The overwhelming majority of the
aliens who come here to make Ameri-
ca their home have come here to
work. Most of them are prepared to
start nlOoeSIly at IHe very pOtLOtl
The day of the man who chiefly
sought a greater political liberty is
past in the main; the man who who
comes today is a seeker after econom-
make a place for himself by work.
Americanization Work.
And it was no mere accident that
placed these people under the direc-
ton of the Cabinet officer who is au-
thorized by Congress ito foster. pro-
mote and develop the welfare Of the
wage Farmers of the United States, to
improve their working conditions and
profitable employment The same
wise provision placed the naturaliza-
ton of these new citizens and their
proper Americanization under the
care of the Seer eatry of Labor"
1t is a grave responsibility, Davis
admits and he then told of his own
entry into the country.
TT must have been so forty years
ago, when I myself came here as an
immigrant boy. little dreaming that
| as Secreatry of Labor of the United
States 1 should one day be vested
with the duty of caring for the thou
sands of other immigrants who come
here now" he said.
Jim Davis, IS ne is affectionately
called by thousands of the workers OF
the country came from Wales with his
parents when only a boy and was a
wage Garner in the tin mills for many
years before he was called by Presi-
| dent Harding to be a MEMBER OF the
| Cabinet.
Work is Heavy.
For many reasons the duty of adj
ministering the immigration law is
over" the Secretary added. I'm fact
he said the great. complicated and
| vet burningly human problem OF
handling our immigration of the pres
ent day is so little understood that
| feel moved to explain it, at least in
some part.
| I'm former times it was not alone
| the hope of lettering their economic
conditions that drove citizens of other
| countries to seek a new life in Ours
! 1t was more than new and better
| home and better wages and chance
| to rise and become perhaps rich and
| i1ustrious under our freer institutions
| that brought these people here. Such
considerations undoubtedly counted
| with our immigrants OF those former
| days. but a great many of them came
| to US with q far STRONGER motive I har
| that. They sought political liberty ir
| the shelter of American democracy
! They believed that We had a better
| form of Government and they came
chiefly for love of it.
| The war left many of the Eupro-
| pean countries in sad economic con
dition. while it at the same time de
prived them of some of their bast mer
their strong men-so much needed
at the present time in the reconstruc-
! ton of their national life. The real
| ~ paIflOOC men VINO went through
| the fire of battle for their country are
not now running away from then
| duty; they are sticking by their Gov
| ernments. These are the men who
in years past came to us and helped
in the upbuilding of our country; they
are not coming to us now.
Has Marked Effect.
This situat ton has had a marked
effect upon the immigration which is
coming to America. The ravases oil
war have caused epidemics or dis
| ease and starvation. Growing babes
and children have been undernour'
| ished and improperly cared for. re-
'rting in physical and mental Grip
oles. Hearing of the better condi
| abandon their own countries tt
shirk their responsible ties and seel
a better condition which the sturdiel
character of the better peoples o
heir races helped to build up in oui
"A little more than wear ago i
became evident to observers her,
that these lowest types of the coun
tries of Europe and Asa were pre-
pairing to move. almost en- masse, t,
America. Men and women afflicted
| with tvphus leprosy, favus, ring
worm, venereal and other loathSom
diseases, were brought to our gates
| There were hopeless cripp1es and
worse still. imbeciles and idiots. In
vestigations of the reports of tn
millions of people of the slums an
ehettoes Of the Old World coming
this wav were made by Congress ant