The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-11-14
M E ACE OF mftDERN ImEIeRA ton
By DR.. II. W. Evans, Imperial Wizard
An Address Delivered October 2th on Khan Day at Texas
State Fair, Dallas.

IL / "
chances in the mad rush for admis-
sion, but these ships were slightly too
anxious. They came to quarantine q
minute or two before midnight. It
was still August and not September.
The authorities SO ruled and turned
them back, because the August quotas
were exhausted. For those two thou
sand immigrants, undoubtedly poor
perhaps with almost their last dollar
at stake, here was personal tragedy
to make the heart sick. =.
\ Keeping in mind that each coun-
try's quota is apportioned monthly,
does not this single incident tell the
whole story of how the system works
from the poor immigrants point of
view?
| Does it not suggest also the newt
able results to and for America? It
is conceivable that many intelligent
men and women will face the risks of
such a system? Can we expect any
human importations better than the
worst under these conditions?
And in this connection do you not
at once come to the conclusion that
there is something radically wrong,
and cruelty inhuman, about the opera
ton Of the quota law? Surely you
will perceive, as all thinking Ameri-
cans must, that the machinery for the
administration Of our immigration
statute should be set up at the begin
lining, and not at the end, of the journ-
ey to America. All decisions concern
ing admissability, all tests of fitness,
should be made there and not here.
That simple change could not greatly
affect our interests, while for the poor
immigrant it would mean all the diff
ference between positive assurance
and the most tragic uncertainty.
What Congress Should Do
Concerning immigration
My friends, I have hardly scratch
ed the surface of this all-important
subject of our immigration problem.
believe, however, there has been
enough of the depressing picture to
convince you, as I stand convinced, Of
the terrible peril that lies in our
present course.
No point have made can or will be
disputed, because the proof is imme-
date and overwhelming. The COM
pletely changed character of our i'm
migration, from the best to the worst
Europe has to offer-who now would
or could contend against that ragic
truth? The present and recent food
of inferior foreigners has vastly in
creased our illiteracy, vitality lowered
the health level and visibly menaced
America by Unbeatable mental and
moral deficiencies. Where among true
Americans is the voice that would
dare either to contradict or defend
these evil conditions. Out of all pro-
portion to its members, the immigrant
stream is moving cityward to make
modern Sodoms and Gomorrahs in a
land that for generations knew COM
paratively little of such body-and-
soul-destroying social infections. No
longer can it be said that those who
come are nationally our sisters and
brothers, seeking with US, and in our
spirit, the establishment of homes and
institutions that will safeguard and
sanctify the Republic. They are not
our kindred in, ideals and traditions,
nor do they, or can they, comprehend
our kind of patriotism, without which
no nation will attain its highest mis-
sion of an ever advancing human well
fare.
This problem of our immigration
has become so acutely critical, so
menacing to America in it's every as
pect and influence, as to demand in
slant and heroic attention by those in
authority. I speak only as one Amer
lean, but in that capacity it humbly
seems to ME that the Congress should,
at the earliest possible moment, en-
two emergency measures. --
First, stop all immigration with ex-
eeptions applying only to separated
families.
Second, while the gates are closed,
institute a thorough governmental in
vestigation into every phase of alien
ISM, to the end that there may be ex-
oct and scientific information upon
which to base permanent immigra-
ton policy. Such an official inquiry
should include
(a) The causes and all the results
of the foreign influx, past and present
nationally, politically, socially, eu-
genicly and with respect to education,
health and morals;
(b) A survey Of all our needs for
more people, with particular reference
to geographical distribution and the
| requirements for production and crea-
tive labor; and ,
| (c) A study of the kinds of people
whose presence here would best meet
these agricultural and industrial
needs, always keeping in mind the all
important American matter of their
ultimate assimilation into our civic
and social structure.
| Such comprehensive, impartial Of
fetal investigation of the whole epoch