The Colorado statesman., 1923-03-03
CONGRESS FAVORS
NEW ALIEN BILL
FURTHER RESTRICTION OF I'M
MIGRATION BELIEVED 10 BE
DESIRE OF COUNTRY.
MAY PASS AT THIS SESSION
Many Elements Besides Organized La
bor Urge Tightening of the Exolu-
sion Provisions-Legislator Not In
clined to Heed the Protests.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK


Washington.-The house of repre-
sentatives is about to give consider
alton to the immigration restriction
bill approved a day or two ago by the
house immigration committee. With
the feeling on this matter as 1t is to-
day In the country, and especially In
congress, it is more than possible that
the bill will be enacted into law
quickly.
Washington has felt for a long time,
possibly of course mistakenly, that
sentiment throughout the country has
been focusing in behalf of some plan
further to keep immigrants out of the
country. The pleas of the manufac-
turing and Industrial interests gen
orally to raise the bars have had little
effect on members of congress because
Of the pressure in reverse which has
been brought to bear by other inter
ests.
This immigration question is rather
delicate one to discuss. To give the
reasons for the demands for more dras-
tic exclusion legislation means that one
must go into matters which many per-
SOllS DIODuDly lulllh huu bClltl bC hSPN
under cover because of the danger of
arousing religious or racial animosi-
| ties.
The drive, If 1t so may be called, In
behalf of strengthening the exclusion
measure has been made not only by
the representatives of labor. who fear
wage cuts and a glutted labor market,
but by organizations of various kinds
and descriptions, some of them per-
haps not altogether open in their man.
ifestations of opposition to further ad-
mission of the foreigners.
Elements for Exclusion.
The japanese exclusion matter
stands by itself, and it needs no ex-
PLANTATION. AS for the rest of the pro-
posed exclusion legislation, it has been
favored unquestionably by what may
be called the America for Americans"
elements in the population; by organi-
cations which say boldly enough that
there are too many Europeans of a
certain kind in this country; by most
| of the officials of the great soldier
body, the American Legion, and uni
| questlonably by a society which re
Gently has had more publicity than its
garb would suggest that 1t seeks.
In Washington there are advocates
of the measure proposing increased
restriction rules who say that the op-
Grafton of the new statute will have
the beneficent result of preventing a
further increase in the racial preju-
dices which exist today, even If men
try to cover their eyes to the fact. The
advocates of the bill hold that the for
eigners who now are here can be as
simulated after awhile If no great ad-
| ditional numbers of them are admitted.
| The argument is that assimilation of
the foreigners here should be perfect
ed before assimilation is made impos-
sible.
The feeling among members of con
| gress is stronger today on this general
subject apparently than ever it has
| been before. 1t is said that many
members of congress are also mem
bers of organizations which have been
| looking with dismay upon the foreign
| izing tendencies in this country. In
a way when vote comes on this immi-
grafton measure some of the members
| of congress may vote as they would
+ have voted in meeting halls at home
| lodge meetings, if one cares so to put 1t.
Where Opposition Comes From.
| Opposition to the legislation is to be
expected from d good many sources.
! Steamship companies will object be-
cause their directors seem to think
that the matter is one of vital impor-
tance to their finances. Organizations
| A., ffrn inn ~
tionals will object as they always have
objected, but objection from these so
cieties, some congressman seem to
think will injure rather than benefit
the general cause of opposition.
1t is of course only possible that this
tightening immigration restriction
measure can become law at this ses-
sion, but unlike other proposed legis-
lation there seems to be likelihood
that the next congress will be as
\ strongly in favor of its enactment as
Is the case with the present congress.
1t seems to be the feeling here that
the liberals, progressives or radicals,
as they variously are called, are more
likely to be in hearty favor of the pro-
posed legislation than their brethren
of the conservative and semi-conserv-
ative ranks. There is nothing, how
ever, to show that members who might
pay attention ordinarily to the de-
mands of certain kinds of great in
dustries will care in this particular
case to respond to their pleas.
The reports which have come from
organizations engaged in the work of
Americanization of the foreigners have
been in the main favorable, but never
theless Americanization is said to be
rather uphill work. The word is that
1t cannot be done adequately so long
as the non English speaking communi-
Tics In this country continue daily TO