Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-09
as the ultra-conservative Republicans
feel oil the subject.
Imn1ioration aw Prosnects


here in what congress may do to an
swer the immigration question. The
present immigration law expires by
limitation on June 80, 1924. Congress
is expected to make some change next
winter in the statute as it at present
exists.
1t is not always safe to make pre-
d1ct1on, but it seems that one does not
risk much even so far in advance when
he dares to prophesy that there will be
no letting down of the immigration
bars by the authority Of congress for
some time to come.
There are strong elements in the
communities which are opposed to al
lowing any more foreigners to come
into this country than are now enter
Ing its gates. On the other hand there
are community elements which are in
slstent that more aliens shall be adj
mitted. 1t is said there is dearth Of
laborers in the United States, particu-
larly in the great industries like steel
making and railroad construction. Nat
urally therefore the employers desire
labor of this kind, while labor already
engaged in these occupations and in
other occupations say that there are
workmen enough and that no more
must come in.
In addition to the element which de-
sires an increase in immigration there
are certain racial groups in the coun-
try which hate to see men and women
OF the countries from which they them
selves sprung forbidden to enter into
the United States. Putting it bluntly.
some of the Polish leaders want more
Poles; some of the Italian leaders
want more Italians, and the leaders of
other foreign elements in the United
States want more men and women of
their own racial stock to secure admis-
sion into what some Of them seem to
think is the Land Of Promise.
Stand Of Labor and Veterans.
Organized labor is opposed to any
increase in immigration, and organized
labor is powerful. The veterans of
the World war as a body are opposed
to an increase in immigration. It is
hard thing to determine just how all
the veterans feel on this subject, but
when it is said that the chiefs of their
various organizations are opposing any
plan to let down the port bars one can
judge pretty well how the masses of
the ex-soldiers feel on the subject.
The great argument against any In
crease in immigration at the present
time, that is, the argument that seems
to have the most weight, is that the
difficulties of Americanizing the immi-
grants have increased greatly in re-
cent years. Some of them positively
refuse to be Americanized. They still
insist on going only to places where
men and women of their nationality
live; they refuse to speak any lam
guage than that of the soil from
which they sprung, except to learn
enough English to enable them to get
jobs of some kind
There are in congress today men
who ten years ago were. in favor of
unlimited immigration, but who now
absolutely are opposed to allowing any
immigrants to come into the country.
From this can be seen how great has
been the change in public opinion.
Some of the bitterest opponents to let
ting any more of the foreigners in
than are coming today are persons
who were born on the other side, or
whose parents were born there. 1t was
an easy thing 20 years ago to Ameri-
canize the immigrant-it is the hard
est kind of thing to do it today.
Law May Be Extended.
Some Of the men of foreign birth
who became Americanized themselves
and learned to love our institutions
realize the situation as it exists today
and stand against the entrance of more
immigrants than can be properly ham
died in the Americanization schools.
These schools do not mean school
houses, but the influences Of all kinds
which are brought to bear to make the
incomer understand that things here
are not. as they we're there, but pre-
sumably are much better.
It is possible that next winter there
may be a deadlock between the house
and the senate on the subject of fmmi-
grafton legislation. If this shall hap
ben the chances are that the life of
the present law will be extended and
that the same percentage of admis-
sions will prevail for another year.
This would be disappointment to
those who think that immigration
should be further checked, but they
probably would prefer that deadlock
should occur rather than to have con-
cessions made looking to the admission
of more of the foreigners.
Something probably will be done by
congress next winter in a regulative
way to make it certain that immi-
grants in excess of the quotas shall
not come to Ellis island only to be
turned back disappointed. 1t is recog-
nized that it is a great hardship for
men and women to come to America
only to find that the gates are closed.
The understanding is that some kind
of regulation will be attempted on the
other side.
Liquor Had Become Vinegar.
Their treasure trove which work