Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-30
III.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

The nuptials of the dead, the trick
of the vanishing bride. the resurrec-
ton stunt and the difficult accom-
plishment of being born in two places
at the same time are among the con-
trivanceS in the magic kit of the i'm
migration specialist for getting unde-
Sirable aliens illegally but safely into
the United States, according to AS
sistant Secretary of Labor Carson.
After all, the safest way to get into
this country and stay here is to be
born here. If the specialist can pro-
vide evidence that his client first saw
the light Of day on these shores all his
difficulties are over--for America al
ways welcomes with open arms her
own. however far they may have wan
dered. Only in comparatively recent
years has there been much attention
paid to birth certificates. In the days
when the country was open to every
body there was little need for them,
and even when returns were required
by law physicians were notably lax.
Names were misspelled, dates were
omitted and even sex was not specl-
fed. The confusion of the old days
left field of fruitful harvest for the
alien smuggler.
Substitutes Accepted.
Many Americans-probabl the ma
jority of those more than 80 years
old-are unable to find their births
recorded in the public records. The
Government recognizes this. 1t VIII
accept various substitutes. A common
substitute is an entry in parish
record of those churches which prac-
tice infant baptism. For that matter,
most churches keep some record OF
the births in their parishes-however
fo oil Nf nn0f11cfQl
records.
This situation, Mr.. Carson finds, has
led to an unholy alliance between the
immigration racketeers and various
clergymen, parish clerks and village
and county officials. Some of the lat
ter may have been innocent victims.
Others, he is convinced, are deliberate
accomplices, well paid for their work.
II cannot say" Mr.. Carson said,
these clergymen, or for that matter
any of the supposedly ethical lawyers
who are mixed up in this business.
But 1t makes one sad to find into what
high quarters the trail of the racketeers
leads"
Hunts for Birth Records.
The racketeer, Carson says, is hired
to get specified alien into this coun-
try. He hunts around for the birth rec
ord of somebody Of similar name and of
approximately the same age born in the
United States. 1t is not necessary that
either name or age be absolutely the
same, since the Government must make
allowance for the notorious carelessnesS
Of parish clerks and village clerks. Be-
sides, 1t is necessary to take mans
word for his exact age. Some men of
40 don't look day over 80.
Once the proper double has been
found the birth certificate or record is
purchased from the clergyman or local
official who has it in charge. Often,
Carson says, $50 to 5000 is paid for
an attested copy of such a record. The
racketeer can afford it because his own
fee Is at least 81 900. Then the copy is
sent to the prospective immigrant with
proper instructions He presents it to
the American consul and demands a
passport. If the papers are in good order
he cannot be refused. He is an Ameri-
can citizen by virtue of birth. He at
tests that he was born in the United
States. was taken back to the old coun-
Try by his parents or came on visit
and now wishes to return
The vanishing bride" trick and the
nuptials Of the dead are closely allied.
The name Of some dead American
woman, preferably of the same race as
the prospective immigrant, is secured
from her tombstone in some obscure
cemetery. Then another woman, a
hireling of the racketeer. obtains pass
port in the dead woman's name and
goes abroad. She marries the client in
the old country and he is admitted on
a non-quota basis as the husband of an
American citizen. But once in the
United States he need not bother with
an unwanted wife. His wife is dead.
Perhaps, if he is an unusually senti-
mental man, he may put flowers on her
neglected grave. But there she sleeps,
and he is safe in the country of his
desire.
Marriage TO Stranger Revealed.
About six years ago a female alien
was smuggled into the United States
and established business in which she
was quite successful. But the dread OF