Salt Lake Telegram | 1921-05-29 | Page 6 | "I'll Clean up Immigration Evils"

i I iTHE iFIE SALT SAt T LAKE I LEA UP RATON VILS SO DECLARES SECRETARY Y YDA DAVIS DA VIS IN PROCLAIMING SLOGAN FIRST Secretary of ot Labor I. James J. J Davis has just completed a n. survey of ot Atlantic Immigration immigration immigration im Im- im- im migration ports Investigating Im facilities practices and personnel with a view to Injecting more humanity Into the reception of aliens and sifting the storm of complaints against men and methods The following article written by Secretary Davis expressly for The Telegram embodies some fOme of his observations and states the policy on h he ho will build the program ot of r reforms forms he says are arc Imperative This policy stresses the tho Golden Rule nule which he has made the slogan slog of the department of labor By James J. J Davis Secretary of Labor Copyright 1921 by Newspaper Newspaper Enterprise Association N BUSINESS life Ife we are careful not to antagonize those with whom we wo I IN expect to associate Everyone appreciates the cash value of good will Time thought and money are wisely spent to create agreeable first impressions and to cultivate friendships Na Nationally however in receiving the alien newcomer who will live and deal and eventually vote with us for better or worse we have been curiously Indifferent whether first impressions shall mal make mako o for good goodwill goodwill goodwill will or ill m. That is bad business to say th the least And to the extent that we reme remedy y this we shall speed solution of many vital national problems closely hooked up with the Important question of immigration r Humane consideration must bo be the watchword at our Immigrant depots A personal inspection of detention stations along the Atlantic has impressed this need most forcefully and to toVe Ve the full fuH extent of its power the tho department of labor will supplement the iron law Jaw with the golden rule in administrative administrative administrative adminis adminis- practice To fulfill a constructive program based on the humanities humanities human human- certain physical barriers must be removed chiefly Inadequate quarters with dangerous congestion as at Ellis island ax The Tho present total inadequacy of admission equipment A will wm be somewhat remedied by the temporary allen alien r restriction s tion act but that is only a stop-gap stop to permit folks gen generally gen gen- J. J J. J DAVIS to think seriously and straight on en immigration gen I BETTER ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED I AT ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANT STATION The one need at detention stations borne In on me during my trip of inspection is for room room room-room room to live like human beings room fo for women and children especially to play and relax during the days and orten often weeks they are kept in detention Now they sit huddled indoors or pace a limited area under conditions condition far fr from m wholesome The Tho children mal make mako e pathetic shift shUt at play while th the elders disillusionment on many faces brood and harbor thoughts which a little sunshine and a plot of grass clean air and more friendly attention would dissipate AMERICA MUST GUARD AGAINST PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL POLITIC L INFECTION America cant can't afford to forget that these people are human beings beings- becoming part of the national life blood It must exercise every care that there is no moral and political infection at the points where here this alien blood is injected For this reason if for no other it is imperative to toe to relieve congestion and its inevitable evils And with this in view the department has b been n making maling a survey of ports of entry to find additional housing facilities Aside from this need the immigration problems confronting the department depart I ment are largely those of administration It will be the primary concern and program in this respect to eliminate so far as lies within my power both men and practices failing to conform to the slogan humanity first EVEN THOSE WHO ARE DEPORTED MUST BE BESENT BESENT BESENT SENT BACK WITH LOVE FOR AMERICA Even the alien who arrives only to find himself inadmissible should leave our shores with respect and love for America No nation is so great Teat and sound that it can afford to make even humble enemies while international international lional relations of the right sort Eort consist merely in being human and friendly Only 2 per cent of immigrants have thus far proved undesirable and even this trouble-making trouble proportion could be further reduced certainly in their influence upon fellow arrivals if America more mere cordially extended that welcome which our alien laws imply Legal welcome and actual repulsion is like asking a new acquaintance to your home and then meeting him with suspicion when he rings the thedoor thedoor thedoor door be bell The St Statue tue of ot LI Liberty holds bolds a beacon in one hand We must put a friendly clasp in the other hand hand hand-as as long as we say we want the properly qualified alien to become a fellow citizen