YoungstownskeÌ SlovenskeÌ noviny = Youngstown Slovak news. (Youngstown, Ohio) 1910-1940, 1934-08-17
MAKING THE ALIEN THE SCAPEGOAT
READ LEWIS DIRECTOR OF f. L. l. S,
REPLIES TO GENERAL Johnson

REPLIES TO GENERAL JOHNSON
To the Editor:
In speech Los Angeles on July 2Oth General Hugh
Johnson National Recovery Administrator reported
have made the following statement:
II do not know the accuracy of the statement and
have check it, but it has been said with
at least the circumstances Of verify that the jobs of aliens
and nondeclarants given to citizens and the former
deported the unemployment and destution problems
in the United States would be reduced by at least
third ~ do not suggest such but do suggest
that the direction Of strike and boodshed has place here
and should be tolerated than armed enemy under
foreign flag"
General Johnson does suggest the deportation of
the five million nondearant aliens the United States but
he gives this cruel and unjust suggestion by
repeating it. BY implication, at least he reflects the
character and loyalty of this large part of population at
the very time when cooperation and goodwill
tal to national well-beng
According three-ifths 1894 per cent?
of these five million aliens children under 2
Comparatively few of these three Million it is safe assume
have jobs The naccuracy of General Johnsos statement
however, is not the ISSUE but the point of view behind it. His
statement bespeaks intolerance thoughtessness
fortunately all too
When admit alien for permanent residence we
accepting him. Professionally least member of A.
mercan society He has, of course definite obligations to
u.s. and if he abuses hospitality should be vigorously
and depored We the other hand have de-
finite obligations him. the majority of he is
here to stay His children will be naveborn citizens Hav
ing admitted him for residence cannot in de-
cency and fairness discriminate against him. He and his
children part of future much they had settled
in New England two three hundred ago. And that
future will be successful for all of only it is
based tolerance and equal opportunity Those the only
foundations for assimilation and national unity is
that basis that the United States has absorbed of the
81, 100000 immigrants admitted since 1920.
Hard tines however, have in many quarters aroused
prejudice against the "alien foreigner Even though
admitted him voluntarily though he pays the
human problems the rest of face people feel
that he is not entitled to equal treatment They would like
to make him the scapegoat for ills there is violence
destruction of property widely assumed that it is the
work of the foreigner General Johnson has been betrayed
into such implication in the statement already quoted
of the comment the San Francisco general strike has
assumed that it nsgated and led by communists and
that all communists aliens Thus District Attorney
Brady is reported saying, II if this becomes
cessary the average communist will calm down considerably
because there nothing that he hates than the poss
biy being depored" AS citizen be deported
the assumption here is that the average communist is
alien.
Such assumption is untrue. It does great injustice
to the of foreign born people, who loyal
working and patriotic Americans any other part of
our population the kind of ill feeling prejudice
suspicion that undermnes national unity and the spirit
cooperation essential to recovery According press
pos of the ITO prisoners and aeged communists whose
heard in San Francisco during the very week that
General Johnson speaking only five found to be
undesirable aliens.
For the past fifteen years Federal laws (Act of Octo
ber 16 1918 amended by the act of June s. 192O have
provided for the deportation of aliens who advocate
muns, unlawful damage destruction of property the
overthrow by of the u S. Government opposition
all organized government What the facts? In spite of
laws and in spite of the intensive drives by Secretaries
Labor Davis and Doak depo alien radicals only 1136
such aliens have been deported in fifteen years. Most of
these 79 depored in the three years Immediately fol-
lowing the enactment of the law in 1918 In the last ten
years. 9241933 only 262 such aliens have been depored
In the light of these figures the injustice and folly of talking
about subversive elements foreign" "alen is
evident Such talk is not only untrue but like much loose
talk of this Sort does grave injustice to millions of law
abiding and loyal foreign born citizens and prospective c
zens AEleN
READ LEWIS,
Director of F. L. l. s.
New York, July 26, 1894.