The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-25
What Price
Aliens?
By EDITH RUDoUIsT.


nj o one knows as yet just how the
4 Y Aswell bill is to be enforced. The
only enforcement-provisions therein
are contained in Sec 16, where the
Secretary of labor is authorized to
make regulations, and Sec. II, which
expressly gives him power to employ
assistance for enforcement. Under
this latter clause it is intended that
he employ an army of officials to
engage in handwriting crusades.
These officials will have unlimited
opportunities to extort money; to
bride; and to blackmail and wreak
boundless oppression and wrongs
upon inoffensive, innocent aliens and
alleged aliens. These inspectors will
be practically free from control and
so be able to do very much as they
please, as were those employed I'M
der the provisions of the Chinese Ec-
clusion Act. The opportunities and
temptations which the Aswell bill
affords, practically unchecked, indi-
Gates an imminent danger to aliens
and natives alike, who happen to in
cur the personal dislike of the in
spector.
Free Play for Grafters.
By means of this law any individ-
aul or organization which happens to
be prejudiced or economically jealous
of an alien resident can have him ar
rested with possible deportation as
the outcome.
What group of government off,
Gals have yet proved to be free from
bribery and graft? No more so will
these prospective ones be. With a
bride the records Of the registered
aliens can be ''fixed" in any way
that is wanted.
Convenience for the Klansmen.
What a wonderful chance it will
give all the 1009o-ers, Ku Kluxers,
American Legionnaires, X. of C.'s,
ETC., to "get" their men. The records
according to Mr.. Aswell's proposaD
are to be kept in duplicate; this dup
licate shall be filed in a central Of
flee" Convenient access to the rec
ords of each alien is thereby given
so that within few hours any alien
can be apprehended and arrested for
all sorts of alleged crimes. The rec
ord shall also contain a complete list
of arrests and convictions with a
record of final disposition of the
case. If record is not in suitable
condition for the sinister purpose of
the 1009o-ers they will no doubt find
some "honest" government official
who is willing to "help them. out"
Undercover Blacklisting.
The use of the blacklist has met
with legal objections in some states.
The Aswell bill does away with the
need of every private blacklist. A
complete, efficient and centralized
record of every alien workers activ-
ity will be kept by the registering CT
ficials for the use and benefit of the
employing class. All this without
having to keep on their payrolls-
as is now the case-stool-pigeons and
provocateurs. Mr.. Aswell very lib
orally provides that "the Secretary
of Labor may request the co-opera-
ton of all federal, state, territorial
or local courts and police and peace
officers in making such reports"
These records will be splendid aid
in obtaining convictions. In labor
trouble cases where the charge is
picketing, rioting, lettering, etc.,
these records will have more weight
in evidence than any policeman's or
civilians testimony. They will be
government records and as such the
inference is that they are true and
accurate. This also eliminates the
bosses own sheriffs and deputies as
witnesses. Then they have cnly to
report to the registering officer and
when his report is offered in evil
dence it will be neither cross-ques-
toned or challenged.
Bearing Witness Against Oneself
Even the certificate of identified
ton, which every alien is always to
carry on his person, is also to con-
tain information in regard to his
status, so that any inspector or any
one who so wishes (peace officerJ
virgin Man" Case to be Tried.
Producers and the cast of "The Vir-
gin Man., one of the three raided
plays, lost their fight yesterday for
trial by jury.