Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-13

While the recent outbreak of radi-
calism in the United States is by no
means confined to aliens, indications
show that as soon as Congress con-
venes there will be a flood of immi
grafton measures introduced which
will not only strengthen our already
existing restriction laws, but there will
be bills directed especially to the
opening of exits for undesirable
aliens. The Labor Department, which
has the control of immigration and
deportation, is averaging about 1000
deportations a month, but it is evident
that Congress intends to speed up the
selfprotective action.
The new law of immigration restric
ton. which was suspended at the last
session of Congress for one year. is
to go into full effect automatically
upon the expirati Of the suspension.
Then we shall admit only per cent
of each nationality, based upon the
number of that race already here in
1900, the total to be limited to $780, 900
a year. This does not include quota
limitations on Canadians or any i'm
migrants from any country in the
Western Hemisphere. The outstand-
ing feature of new proposals Is to in
clude the Western Hemisphere in the
quota law, so that only per cent Of
the number of each country's people
who were here in 1900 shall hereafter
be admitted each year, yet the total
number of all races to be admitted to
be kept down to the $50, 900 limit.
There are two considerations in all
questions of immigration--the num-
Der and the quality of those received.
It is generally agreed that the South
ern Europeans are the least desirable
immigrants, as they least assimlate
American ideals and customs. The
characteristics Of European races ad-
here to those American peoples accord
ing to their Old World derivations;
therefore, it is argued, why should the
undesirability of the Italians, Greeks
and Spaniards, with the corresponding
objections to their derivatives-the
Mexicans and Central Americans-op-
crate to incite equal restrictions
against the race descended from the
country of our own forefathers? Why
should the need of barring or control
ling MeXicans cause us to bar or limit
Canadians? Is there any parallel?
The Canadians are like the Ameri-
cans in language, education and hab-
it's; there is absolutely no appreciable
difference, argue the Congressman who
discuss immigration. If it would be
a disaster to have million native
Americans migrate and cease to be
Americans, though they had always
been industrious, thrifty and law-abid-
ing citizens, why, argue the liberals,
would not an added million just like
them in every respect be a contribu-
ton to the wealth production Of our
population?
If Canada and Mexico were put upon
the regular quota basis, permitting 2
per cent Of the number who were here
in 1890 to enter now each year, Can
ada's quota would be 1853 and Mex
ico's only 1,557. Prof. G.. E. Jackson
Of the University of Toronto calculates
that the total Canadians who emf
grated into the United States during
the last half Of last century totaled
500 900, the number increasing this
quarter century of 1900 to 1925, so that
now there are about 100000 in the
United States, of whom about 307,786
are of French descent. They constitute
Is per cent Of our foreign born.
Mexicans and other Spanish-Indian'
Negro mixtures are not like Americans
and never can be, say the opponents
of their free admission. or the l5,O0O,-
900 population of Mexico, only 10 per
cent are pure whites, 100000 are
pure Indians and the other 100000
are mixed bloods, with Indian predomi-
mating. In 1910 only 100000 people
in Mexico could read or write in any
| language. Since the present regime
came into power, more schools have
been established, but the existing gen
Grafton will pass away before illiteracy
will be perceptibly decreased. While
| there is no quota limit, as from Eu
| rope, Mexicans must pass the literacy
test, and pay for their passports as
other nationalities.
The commissioner general of imml
| grafton estimates that there are now
more than a million MeXicans In the
United States; other authorities place
the limit nearer 100000. 1t Is sale
that half of the MeXicans in the
United States have entered Illegally
In Denver, II per cent of the 53t
Mexican families in 1925 received pub
lie relief; in California, 80 per cent are
aided by charity. Prof. M. S. Handmar
of the University of Texas Is quoted
For the sake Of a speeding up In
the exploitation of our natural re
| sources are we creating fol
ourselves a social problem full of dis
NAL prospects, Of race hatreds. OF
bruised feelings, Of social ostracisms
and perhaps Of lynchings and the race