Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

last is years 227.623 aliens who de-
SIRED American citizenship were de-
MED that privilege because they were
too ignorant TO understand the re-
Quirements of the naturalization law.
Many of these aliens are listed as dis
loyal. but there can be no doubt that
their disioya1ty was due in some part
to their ignorance of our Government
institutions. Why should they be ig-
noranty We make no provision to
| teach them. Some patriotic, fraternal
and similar organizations are seek
ing to aid the alien toward Ameri-
canization, bat they do not reach 20
per cent OF our alien population.
Through registration we could
open to these aliens the Americana
ing environment of our educational
| institutions during the period of their
probation for citizenship and there
give them the opportunity to learn
our language and something of our
institutions.
While aiding the alien seeking OPP.
portunity, registration would put an
end to the activities of the alien IL
legally in this country. How many
Of this class there are no man can
say. They come by devious ways over
our border. and the traffic in bootleg
immigrants runs side by side with
the traffic in Illicit drugs. The whole
! Army and Navy could not patrol our
borders in such way as to halt en-
tirely the smuggling of aliens.
X x
Zone phase of this problem" added
Secretary Davis, I'VE can check up.
| The records Of the department show
that in 1923 2S,1s4 alien seamen de-
serted their ships in American ports.
In 1924 the number was 34,47s. We
cannot meet this problem of surrepti-
tious entries Of aliens by an army of
! officials combing our cities and coun-
tryside for Illicit immigrants, but we
| can make 1t Improbable for the alien
| to be here illegally, and under the
registration plan he would be prompt
| iy detected and deported The plan
| would insure the detection of the
alien who is here to preach the down
| fall of our institutions and to SOW
| the seeds of social discomfort. IT
would aid the good alien and sup
| press the bad. 1t would make better
aliens for America and a better
| America for the aliens
| In opposition, Representative Celler
| of New York claims that registration
| would build up an espionage sys-
tenn and be another step in the direc-
| ton of Capitalization and bureau
| cracy in Washington" Mr.. Celler has
not gone into detail in showing how
| registration at all post offices and
postal stations throughout the United
| States is to build up GENERALIZATION"
Secretary Davis replies that 'if we
pass this law. a great army of aliens
| will leave the United States-narcotic
! dealers and bootieggers of aliens"
| One feature Of the bill Is to request
| all governors OF States to file with
the Secretary of State a succinct &C
count OF the resources and industries
| r. Ga L.
| needs thereof. These reports will be
sent to all American consus and
when a proposed immigrant applies
| to the consul for his passport or visa
| he will be shown these descriptions
| of the AZ States and required to select
| the part of America he intends to go
ito. That is to be written in upon his
visa, and when that immigrant
| reaches here he will not have COM
piled with all legal requisites until
he arrives in the State Of hts choice
registration that he has done SO. The
congestion Of farmers and mechanics
| in seaboard cities, when they should
go west and grow up with the coun-
try" will thus be modified.
There is provision in existing law
| which enables the Government,
| through the courts. to revoke the
! who is found guilty of disloyalty.
The theory IL that such disloyalty, no
matter when 1t develops, Is indica
| ton of bad faith at, the time of TAX
| ing the oath of loyalty. This provi
sion led to the revocation of many
pro-Germans during the war. The
registration would make the tracing
of the records of all very much easier
and more certain of reaching justice.
Copyright. 1926. by Paul " -Collins.I