Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-04
General Ban on immigration
Has Strong Public Support

The proposal by Senator David A.
Reed Of Pennsylvania that all immigra-
ton be cut of for the next two years,
with only a few exceptions, is meeting
with approval In many quarters. The
exceptions TO the suggested exclusion
would be unmarried children under 81
years Of age, husbands and wives of
American citizens, and the parents of
citizens, subject to the general restric-
tons Of the immigration act relating to
literacy and mental, moral and physical
health"
Unanimous approval in both houses
Is anticipated by some of those favoring
the proposal" states the Ann Arbor
Daily News, which thinks that, for the
good Of the country as whole, from
the labor standpoint, Congress should
act with alacrity in favor of the ban"
The Manchester Union considers the
step as both logical and reasonable"
and predicts that ut will doubtless re-
ceive unanimous support"
THE situation Is not at all compli-
Gated" reasons the Danbury News. I'VE
have in the United States some 1922
100000 people. From 100000 to
100000 of them are out of work. Shall
we import those who would swell the
ranks OF the jobleSS? Or shall we shut
the gates for timer" asks this paper,
and, answering, reasons: Common
sense says, Shut the gates That's
what Senator Reed proposes. and it is
a good proposal" So also the Detroit
Free Press, in whose opinion "it is only
sensible to prevent further increase of
the population of the country through
influx until the present unemployment
ends and the country is running pros
perously once more. Nothing is to be
gained for anybody by allowing contin-
uance of the incoming stream of aliens
as long as there is nothing for new
corners to do after arriving, and the
more quickly and the more thoroughly
an emergency lid is clamped down the
sooner the economic situation is likely
to warrant lifting it again. declares
this paper The New Orleans Item sees
mo forceful argument against such
suspension"
The history of the United States in
the matter of welcoming the stranger
Is generous one, many papers point
out. AS the Altoona Mirror says, from
the beginning our gates have remained
open constantly. We have cordially
welcomed all Corners without inQuiring
too carefully concerning their anteced-
ents or their qualifications for citizen
ship" The Lancaster Intelligencer-
tunate that America (the United States)
has to close it's doors to those of the
world who seek better conditions or
more freedom of thought and action,
but times have so changed that there
seems nothing else to do"
Considering the matter from the
point Of view of the immigrant, the Du-
luth Herald argues: Until the labor
already here is fully employed, it seems
a fu tn
seekers from other lands to come in and
meet the disappointment inevitable in
an overloaded labor market" while the
Wheeling Intelligencer looks with favor
upon 1.-The prevention, for two years at
least, of hundreds of thousands OF new
aliens coming to the United States an
nually to swell the ranks Of unassimi-
lated citizens and jobleSs workers, from
which criminals are usually recruited"
The Harrisburg Telegraph advises that
it is better to think of those born in
this country and those who have come
here with reasonable expectation Of i'm
proving their condition than to open
the gates to the entry OF thousands OF
others who will leave work at home in
q vain search for employment here"
The Portland Oregon Journal would
provide for Americans before more
wei kers are permitted to come here"
Among those papers that question the |
wisdom of the ban or are frankly OPP
posed to it is the Richmond News
Leader, which says: THE gain to
America in any case will not be great, !
and the ill-will that will be engendered !
by exclusion may be serious matter. |
The first restrictions on immigration, !
though among the most salutary laws
passed by Congress since the war, made |
many enemies for America. especially In /
nd fl1ao Form -
contends that the tariff has Increased |
the number of those enemies every
where Complete exclusion would add
to prejudicesA that are ell too easily