Evening star., 1932-07-17
NEW PAN.AMERICAN BAR
SEEN in IMMICRATIONLAW
Proposed Legislation Is Declared Threat
to Better Understanding for
Sake of Politics.

prosperity. Wealth then increasing
faster than population, conservatism,
prudence in political experiment dis
trust of new ideas and Constitution
worship grew also"
BY the end of the last century, when
most of the land had been settled, when
the industrializa DON of the country was
an accomplished fact, when labor was
no longer scarce, but abundant, the de-
sire began to take shape to reserve the
enjoyment of material welfare and
blessed institutions to the descendants
Of those who had created them alone.
Under the alien contract labor law Of
1885 and its amendments, trade unions
sought to restrict the recruiting of
cheap immigrant labor, which was af-
fecting wages and working conditions
in basic industries.
More Stringent Laws.
Gradually, as the standards OF living
became higher and native labor more
of the act Of 1882 were made more
stringent.
II was not until after the World War,
however, that the restrictionist tendency
effected real changes.
The activities of foreign-born groups
in behalf of their belligerent father
lands were cited as showing the social
dangers to which nation was subject
when many of its citizens were not as
simulated. The anti-alien sentiment
which these activities aroused con-
tributed not little to the strength Of
restrictionist agitation.
In the meantime the South had
changed its earlier attitude of almost
solid opposition to immigration restric-
ton to one of almost solid support. In
the words Of Prof. Holland: The South
had given up hope of recognizing it's
agriculture by diversif1cation on the
basis OF European peasantry, and for
its new industries it had found in its
mountain people large labor reserve
which was cheaper and easier 70 dis
cipline than the foreign factory labor
Of the North
Literary Test Demanded.
All these causes. strengthened by the
efforts of organized labor, finally re-
suited. in 1917, in the enactment of the
immigration act OF that year, chiefly
known for its hteracy test provision.
The literary test. selected by restric-
tionists as the most practical cheek to
Southern and Eastern European imni-
grafton, as early as 1890, had been sue
cesslvely vetoed by President Cleveland
! in 1896. by President Taft in 1918 and
by President Wilson in 1915.
President Wilson, in vetoing it. had
expressed that the literacy test was a
test OF opportunity, not one Of char
acter. that it was restrictive in pur-
pose" and was therefore contrary to
cherished national principles"
These cherished national principles
we're cast aside. however, by the Con-
gress of the United States two years
later. The literacy test was passed bv
both houses, again vetoed by President
wilson, and then it received the two
tnlros majority necessary to override
the veto and became law.
Requirements of Law.
Its outstanding provisions. the lit
eracy test, required of all immigrants
ability to read 30 or 40 words of print
In some Language, a requirement which
was radical departure from the ira
oltional immigration policy of the
country.
After the World War, restrictionists
became more active than ever. They
charged that advantage would be taken
OF American hospitality by newcomers
out OF a Europe which in its turn had
become land Of agrarian govern
mentS, OF socialistic heresies, and Of
tne terrifying experiment of BolsheVism
In the meantime. economic reasons
were strongly pressing for more re-
strctlve immigration policy.
by the end OF 1920. immigration be-
gan to approximate its pre-war level.
Ihe nteracy test was clearly not hav-
ing the erect upon labor supply that
the immigration Commission had ex-
peoeo. American labor was being in
lureo- Even the large industrial in
terests had now turned against undis.
crmnating immigration for this was
resulting IN the establishment Of COM
petitive industries.
Doors Are Closed.
Politicians and lobbyists took the
matter under their care, and from that
time it was clear that the "open door"
immigration policy of Uncle Sam was
at an end
The doors were finally closed by the
emergency quota act of 1921 and the
permanent quota act of 1924 Tha lat
eer one provided that the annual
quota OF any nationality for the fiscal
year beginning July l. 1927. and for
each fiscal year thereafter. shall be a
numoer which bears the same ratio to
!oO,OOO as the number of inhabitants
In Continental United States in 1920
having that national origin bears TO the
number OF Inhabitants in Continental
United States in 1920"
The 1924 act left unrestricted the
immigration from Canada, Newfound-
land, Mexico. Cuba. Haiti. the Domi-
nican Republic, the Canal Zone and the
independent countries of Central and
South America. Today, when economic
conditions are unusually severe, and
have made more acute the problem Of
native labor, agitation Is strong for the
inclusion of immigrants from all coun-
tries in the Western Hemisphere in the
quota system.
Provisions Of New Bill.
The new immigration bill now before
Congress proposes a go per cent cut in
immigration. which would affect coun-
tries Of the Western Hemisphere as well
as Europe
Although the economic depression has
by itself taken care Of the problem
last year, for the first time in the his
tory Of the country, more emigrants
sailed from the shores of the United
States than immigrants came in-and
although very little unskilled labor, al
most none at all, comes from the rest
Of the continent-outSide of Mexico and
Canada-the proposed restriction is said
to be gaining favor with the gentlemen
at the Capitol. If it passes, new bar
rier will have been placed il the way
of a better Pan American understand
ing. for the sake of matertahstic and
political considerations.
copyright. 1897