The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-03-28
POLITICS BLOCKS
NEW ALIEN BILL
CONGRESSMAN FROM THE BIG
CITIES ARE AFRAID OF THE
FOREIGN GROUPS.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

IaUl luNeSllSdJlNe matter 10 COluc
before congress this year has been or
can be removed from the field of par
tisan politics. Partisanship has run
amuck In the rooms of the investigat-
Ing committees. Now 1t seems that
politics, irrespective of party, is play
ing rather high hand in immigration
legislation.
The deuce of the thing as member
has put II, is that the immigration
measure has come TO plague party men
In a presidential year. Seemingly. II
the thing could be put off until next
winter, the Johnson bill, drastic as IT
is, would go through both houses with
out trouble. Now, both parties are
afraid of losing votes In the presiden-
tial election If their representatives
and senator's shall vote virtually alb
solute keep OUT clause into the i'm
migration restriction bill.
With Fall. Doheny. Sinclair, Daugh-
erty and some others In the limelight
of unpleasant interest, congress seems
to have forgotten all about the immi-
grafton legislation and the imperative
necessity of doing something quickly.
The present law governing the matter
will expire In little more than three
months.
Threat of Foreign Blocs.
Charges have been made directly In
the lower house of congress that ''for-
eign blocs" in an American legislative
chamber are working against the inter-
ests of the country. OF course the re-
tort has been made that the foreign
blocs are really the truly American
blocs. because. as their spokesman put
1t, they stand for that for which Amer
lea Is supposed to stand the making
of this land home for the oppressed
from everywhere This has certain
kind of sob In 1t which appeals to
sentimentalists.
1t has more than a sob In 1t, It has
threat in 1t. The New York delega-
ton virtually solidly is opposed to the
Johnson bill for restrictive immigra-
ton. Delegates from some of the other
northern states having big cities with
In their borders also are almost solidly
opposed to the Johnson bill. 1t seems
hardly necessary TO explain the reason
for the opposition. Members who rep
resent the big city districts fear that
If the naturalized foreigners in their
bailiwicks vote soIidly against them
they can't come back to Washington
as members of the Sixty-ninth con-
gress.
So-called progressive Republicans In
congress are divided on this immigra-
ton subject Some of them who are
communistic In their ideas know that
with unrestricted immigration they can
get support for the cause of commu-
nism. Some Of the others, however,
have a racial feeling which they say
nothing about, which nevertheless
probably moves them to support of the
Johnson plan.
Speaking Plainly About Races.
There has been much bitterness
shown In congress because of the un-
doubted fact that If the Johnson meas
ure shall become a law, the numbers
of the southern and eastern Europeans
who can get into the country under
the present law will largely be de
creased. while men and women from
the northern countries can continue to
come in considerable numbers
There is considerable plain speaking
about this northern and southern Eu-
ropean matter not only in congress but
from the public platforms in Washing
ton. Men in public life here have been
bold enough to say that the southern
races are not wanted and the northern
races are wanted. Courage seems to
have come I'm this matter to men who
some years ago didn't dare to speak
their minds on the subject. Senators
and representatives In congress, and
public men generally who come from
the states and the districts where the
Nordic races are dominant, are stating
their views openly.
1t takes something like nerve prob
ably for some Of the men who are
pressing the Johnson bill to stand up
and tell representatives of certain peo-
pies that many Of their races are not
up to the American standard and that
the fact has been proved by the failure
of those already here to progress prop
erly along American lines. However,
this thing is being said and said with
freedom. and at times with abandon.
1t is something new to hear this kind
Of talk in the city of Washington.
The charge is made specifically that
hundreds of thousands of immigrants
that have been coming into this coun-
try for the past ten years have come
here with no thought of Americanizing
themselves but with the obvious inten-
ton of remaining foreign and un-Amer-
lean. When the day comes to debate
the Johnson bill In congress there will
be plain talk. Opinions will be ex-
pressed which. If voiced twenty years
ago, would have been certain to de-
feat the speakers for reelection
Party Leaders May Check Inquiry.
Senator Lenroot, having resigned
from the Craftsmanship of the sen
ate oil investigating committee be
cause Of III health, has been sue
ceeded by Senator Ladd of North
Dakota. Nobody seems TO think that
the change will make the slightest
difference in the general conduct of
the proceedings, for It is virtually GER
tain they viii go on as they have been
going unless, as is rumored pretty
sharply today, there shall be inter-
Mon and Wife os Fr;ends