The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-11-14
Continued From Last Weeks Issue

4
der the quota law, in predominatina
numbers.
Our Present immigration Laws
In the face of all these tragic facts
what are we to do about this para
mountly Important problem for the
composition of our people? What have
we done about it?
First, as have shown, there was
unrestricted immigration.
Then came slight sign of rsgula.
ton, manifested in control by ths
several states. That was during the
first three-fourths of the last century
The National Government did nothing
until 1882, when a law was passed
providing for the exclusion Of con.
victs (exxcept for political offenses)
lunatics, idiots, and persons likely to
become a public charge, to which
classes We're later added anarchists
polygamists, prostitutes, and persons
suffering from loathsome or danger.
GUS contagious diseases. The importa.
ton of contract labor was afterwart
prohibited. None of these laws, MOI
their administration, was more than
partially successful. .-
Exclusion of Chinese laborers by
treaty and legislation came in 1882
In 1907, similar attitude was taken
with respect to Japanese laborers.
Following that the literacy test was
made part Of our immigration policy
by the Congressional act of 1917.
Now we are operating under the
quota" law enacted in 1921. That
statute fixes the influx as it existed in
1910 as basis and permits the an
nual admission from each nation OF
three per cent Of the number it then
had in the United States. The quota,
however, does not apply to any Of the
countries of the New World. Mexico
and Canada, for example, are not af-
fected. Oriental immigration being
regulated by treaty and special legis-
lation is also outside the quota.
Both the educational and quota laws
have mitigated the evils of immigra-
ton, but without resulting in any very
fundamental improvement. The flood
of ignorance has been lessened, and
likewise the appalling proportions of
foreigners that were coming. How
ever, it must be apparent to any
thoughtful, patriotic American, that
the mere fact of our having had, say
million undesirable, unassimilating
aliens here in 1910 from a certain
country is not a valid reason for now
permitting 5000 more of them en- en-
ter our gates each year.
This quota idea relates entirely to
quantity, while quality should deter
mine the whole matter. Restriction,
unless it is absolute, cannot reach and
remedy the evil. Selection is the
principle that should prevail, with po-
tential American quality the great
objective.
The last year, ending June thirtieth,
we admitted 522,919, most of them un-
der the quota law. Statistics are not
yet available by which to determine
the actual or potential net worth to
America f these half minnion future
citizens. From a careful study of
their sources, however, I am con-
WINGED that more than three-fourths
of them, by reason, not Of national
but of basic racial and religious char
acteristics, are completely beyond as
sanitation.
Nearly two per cent of last years
importations were colored races;
about five per cent were of the Bal
kan types; from ten to fifteen per
cent were Jewish; and more than six
ty per cent were of undoubted papist
allegiance.
But aside from it's false basis, quite
apart from it's unsatisfactory results,
the quota law brings unnecessary and
inhuman hardships upon the poor i'm
migrant who must comply with its re-
quirements. I have no words that are
adequate to pass. on to you the dis
tressing picture of Ellis Island con-
ditions as they have come to me. The
voyage of Columbus in quest of his
divine discovery was hardly more pre-
carious and speculative than is now
the immigrant journey to America.
To illustrate, on the night Of Aug.
ust 31st four steamships were racing
into New York harbor. They carried
immigrants to the number Of 1896
In order to get this human steerage
accepted, it was necessary to time
their arrival almost to split second
At exactly midnight, plus the small.
est fraction of a minute, it would be
September LIST. Those reaching Ellis
Island after midnight would be GER
tain of acceptance in the September
quota. A delay Of one hour, possibly
even a minute, might be fatal to Their
The N0rfh" .....