Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-18
FLOOD Of ALIENS
WILL Be CHECKED
CONGRESS SEEMS CERTAIN TO
PUT FURTHER RESTRICTIONS
ON IMMIGRATION.
HELD TO BE GOOD POLITICS
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK

certain to provide at the present ses-
sion tor Il new immigration law. The
present restriction laws expire by limi-
tation next summer. New regulations
not only will be but must be framed
and indcrsed.
congress has taken only mild in
terest in the suggestions which have
come from attendants at the national
Immigration conference which has
Just been held in New York. Pleas
were made at that conference in be-
half OF solving the problems this way
or that way. Congress apparently is
gong to solve it, or rather to try to
soNe 1t, in just one way-by
strengthening of the restriction law.
IN the senate the leaders are in fa-
vor of further restriction, and this
condition holds in the house. Why?
wen, one does not have to search far
Tor the answer. There have been some
rather nder-the-surface movements
IN the country recently which make
II appear that a majority of Ameri-
cans, and big majority at that, be,
heve not in letting down the bars, but
IN mailing them higher.
1t has been known for some years
that organized labor desires that the
Hood of immigrants shall be checked.
IL is not organized labor, however.
which has produced the change which
has come over congress recently. The
members of the two houses seem to be-
lieve that pretty nearly everybody in
the country, except some of the great
Industrial chieftains who are looking
for cheap labor, not only stands op-
posed to an increase in the influx but
stands in favor of means to decrease
Its volume. Some years ago it was
good politics for most of the senators
and representatives to oppose restric-
tive laws. Today 1t is good politics to
favor them.
Racial Considerations Move Some.
There are some members of the
house who hail from the big cities
who will oppose further restrictions,
and in fact are likely to favor more
lenient legislation in behalf of intend
Ing immigrants, but 1t IS held these
men are not moved either by the
plea of the industrial chieftains for
cheaper labor, or by belief that Amer
lea ought to be refuge for anybody
who wants to come here They are
moved 1t. is charged, solely by racial
considerations.
In many cases these representatives
~ hr
old native stock, but the voters who
send them to congress either are com
paratively recent imports, or have lin
gering with them that love of their
race which moves them to desire a
larger old homeland companionship in
this country.
If one can depend upon the signs Of
the times. 1t seems to be assured that
after the first day of next July immi-
grants will have harder time to get
into the United States than they are
having today. The bulk of the poll
ticians, once friendly to the flood, now
seemingly will hail an cbb.
Inspection Agencies Considered.
1t may be that something will be
done in legislative way to establish
inspection agencies abroad to handle
immigration and properly to direct 1t.
This would cost lot of money and
necessitate the setting up of somewhat
elaborate machinery, and there are
members of congress who do not be-
lieve the machine would work after
1t was set up.
1t is said that If this legislative plan
is adopted and consuls or consular
agents or other agents Of the govern
ment. shall undertake the inspection
work on the other side of the water,
hardships will come to the foreigners
who want to come here to which the
hardships of those who are turned
back from this side are as nothing.
Foreign agencies cannot be estab-
lished in every place. 1t Is said that
hundreds Of thousands of foreigners
desiring to come to America will leave
their homes to 60 to the nearest in
spection point, and that not only by
sheer force Of numbers will they make
work impossible, but the .ast majority
of them will be disappointed in their
endeavors and will find themselves
stranded far from home.
Today in congress the subject of i'm
migration is being given consideration.
There will be hearings on the matter,
but hearings or no hearings, it seems
to be an absolutely safe prophecy that
immigration into the United States
as a result of the action CT the present
congress, will be checked even in the
face Of the plea that the number of
foreigners admitted at present is not
sufficient to keep the labor scales in
this country at evens.
Party Leaders Welcome Contests.
Many of the leaders Of both polit-
ical parties in Washington today seem
not at all sorry that there are to be
several entries in each race for the
presidential nomination.
1t is known definitely now a. a sort
of an information aftermath of the
meeting Of the Republican national
committee that many of the more con-
servative Republican leaders are
pleased rather than sad because Sena-
tor johnson has entered the contes,
against Calvin Coolidge.
Why is t that both Republican and
Democratic lenders are glad that there
Her Lucky Number