The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-04-11
ARE ALIENS A MENACE
TO AMERICA?
The Christian Science Monitor


United States declared to be working
to bring about the defeat of the
Johnson bill now before congress, or
any legislation proposing the restric-
tion of alien immigration, has served
to direct public attention to the ne
cessity of formulating and adopting
definite immigration policy. The
conviction has been impressed that
those composing these groups are not
acting as American citizens, but as
aliens who are more loyal to the
countries of their origin than to the
country of their partial adoption.
Under existing political, industrial
and social conditions in the United
States, these advocates of unrestrict-
ed immigration prove unconvincing
advocates of such a cause. They
themselves are supplying the absolute
proof Of the necessity of adopting eff
fective restrictive legislation.
The American Legion, through it's
commander, James r. Quinn, has
Joined hands with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, represented by Sam
uel Gompers, in an effort to direct
the attention of the people of the
United States to the Importance of
viewing the problem presented in the
light of reason and without false
sentimentality. They do not blame
the disconnected and discouraged peo-
Piles of southern European countries
for seeking asylum elsewhere. But
they do hold responsible for the con-
ditions which preclude their admis-
sion to the United States at this time,
or at any time in the near future, the
failure or refusal of their compatri-
OTIS who now live under the protec-
tion of American laws to assume the
duties and responsibilities of citizen
ship.
1t is pointed out that during the
last century some 100000 aliens
have entered the United States. They
are now, at least nominally, an inte-
grail part of the nation. But the facts
disclosed show that instead of becom-
| ing a part of the whole, millions of
these newcomers are still the nation
| ais, at least in sympathy and preju-
dices, of the lands from which they
came. The melting pot, whose eff
cheney as a transmuter of human
dross into the pure gold of patriot
ism and love of country has been
boosted, seems to have failed to per-
form it's functions. For this failure
it may be claimed that Americans
themselves are in no small part re-
sponsible. But if the fact remains
that the fusing process has not been
accomplished, and that there exists
menacing and increasingly large fac
tor still to be reclaimed, it does not
so much matter who is blamable.
Commander Quinn quite naturally
began his study of the immigration
problem, just as Mr.. Gompers has
pursued it, in an effort to determine
the economic effects of restricted i'm
migration, and the possible effects of
the adoption of an absolute prohib-
tive policy. He was concerned, first
of all, for the 100000 Americans
who were in the military service dur
ing the war. A great majority of
these, he found, were men who
worked with their hands for a living.
Unrestricted immigration threatened
to make impossible the reintroduc-
tion of these workers into the indus
trial scheme of the country. But his
research seems to have led him much
farther than this. The economic as
pect of the case loses it's Importance
as the social and political factors be-
come emphasized. Exploited by as
tute nationals who have preyed upon
them, as well as by employers in in
dustry who have compelled them to
work for less than a fair living wage,
the more ignorant immigrants have
grown bitter and resentful, offering
a fertile field for the seeds Of radi-
calism and revolution.
What is to be the method by which
this problem is solved? 1t is con-
tended that until a plan can be
evolved which will insure protection
to the immigrant, and which at the
same time will protect American cit
liens and American institutions, there
must be complete cessation of i'm
migration. The existing method of
fixing quotas based on the number
of aliens resident in the United
States at some previous period,
while somewhat more satisfactory
than some other methods attempted
or proposed, probably will never es-
| tablish the true basis. III immigrants
in any number are to be admitted
they must be educated. This educa-
tion should accomplish their Ameri-
canization, at least In the sense that
II will teach them patriotism and
obedience to the laws. With this as