Evening star., 1933-11-26

investigation work at the immigr alton
station on Ellis Island.
There are thousands of the White
Russian class In this country" said
Mrs Campbell, who deserve help and
sympathy in the position in which
they find themselves. know many OF
them personally. They are well edu-
Gated, cultured people, who, despite
the fact that they were accustomed to
luxury. have worked with their hands
at the hardest tasks; They have ac7
cepted their fate without bitterness. !
have never heard one of them COM
plain. They have met the worst con-
ditions with a smile, and even with
humor Aristocrats In their inheri-
tance, they have lived up to the finest
traditions of their class I know of one
man who lived for months in the
direst poverty, subsisting on q few cents
worth of bread and cheese a week,
and yet refusing to discuss his mis-
fortunes with any one and resolutely
working to extricate himself from his
situation.
girl of proud family, who has reached
a good-paying position in this country
and supports her elderly parents who
live in exile in Paris. I have met Off
GERS of the guard, who took employment
as riding masters. 1t was the best
opportunity that opened 10 them, or
they were able to make rather They
are graduates of the Russian Military
Academy and also of the army riding
schools. able leaders Of cavalry
splendid horsenlen-all OF them. II Is
not unusual to find princesses and
grand duchesses engaged in business in
this city, some of them in department
stores. They keep silent regarding their
rank. and who have advanced them
and industry.
Those who are interested In this
movement" continued Mrs. Campbell
not S deport such T russian as oH refHeees eeao IN
| any circumstances. Especially does this
apply to men Of the old regime who
have taken American wives. I know
Of one former Russian officer who
married the daughter Of Boston
f1nancier and has advanced himself in
many ways. To deport such men as he
is, and perhaps even send them to their
deaths. when they could become useful
American citizens, seems to us an act
of monstrous injustice"
1t has been suggested by Mrs
Campbell and her associates that the
| immigration law regarding certificates
| of registry be so modified that Rus
sian refugees Of known ability and high
character be permitted to become
American citizens 1t is proposed that
this change be made the subject of
a hearing by the immigration Commit
tee of the House of Representatives
There is a law which permits an
alien whose legal entry cannot be veri-
/ fnd M ovafe ~
immigration for certificate of regis
try. This document paves the way for
him to apply for his first naturalization
papers. There are many small ports
In the United States which have not
kept records of all immigrants who
have come into the country. Those
without records who entered between
June 29, 1905, and June, 1921, may ap-
| ply for the certificates. A very brief
and clear explanation of this phase
Of the law has been issued by the
National League for American Citizen
ship The applicant for the certificate
of registry, after making out the re-
quired forms, and furnishing six copies
of his or her photograph, appears for
examination before commissioner or
superintendent of immigration at Ellis
Island or at whatever other station Is
designated. To quote from the leagues
digest, the conditions are these:
-Four facts are determined at this
examination: that he entered the
United States prior to June, 1921:
that he has resided In the United
/ States continuously since his entry
(absences of less than one year are
not counted, If the applicant can show
he did not intend to break his resi-
dence); that he is of good moral char
4 ootor ov,I hot p dc or e1yI,i 70 do
portation. At least two witnesses must
support his claims as to character and
residence.
Believes Congress May Pass Bill.
1T is possible that Congress shortly
will pass a bill which will extend the
privilege Of obtaining certificates Of
registry to aliens who entered the
United States illegally between June 3.
1921. and July l. 1924, or who remained
here Illegally"
Illegally" is meant to apply to those
who for certain reasons were obliged to !
find refuge. as for political or religious |
reasons. They are in the situation OF
a man who fleeing from danger, runs
into the first house Of which he finds /
the door open. 1t is understood that |
those persons to whom certificate of
registry be issued are Of good moral
character and not likely to become pub !
lie charges and are in every way ac-
ceptable, despite the irregularity of
entry.
There are undeniably some White ;
Russians" who. for personal safety, got |,
into the United States without the
formalities of the quota. Some. for J
instance. left all that they had-per-
Scnal property and estates, and took
passage as sailors or stokers on tramp
steamships, some of which were under |
the Greek flag. On their arrival here /
they Jumped ship or deserted, and
took whatever work they could get. |
Others have reached here by the way Of |
Mexico or Canada and after many at
tempts managed To gain q foothold.
The proposal is to so modify the GER
tihcate of registry act of 1921 as to |
extend its provisions to those who have
sought refuge in the United States to |
save themselves from the consequences
of their political or religious beliefs.
The certificate Of registry being as
sured, those who receive it would then
be in position to qualify for natural
ization and become American citizens
would find happy solution Of their