| Show Island Station made to typify door of hope to aliens 0 aw M X A above group of russian orphans below dutch children at play at el lis island by FREDERICK C HOWE commissioner of immigration at the port of new york the mlis ellis island immigrant rant station Is the g g greatest g gateway in the world taj through ough it in normal times a million people enter the united st states ates each year they come from every nation tint but they all come with the same hopes and inspired by the same desires for anew adew life in ili a new land free froni from the poverty oppression or persecution to tb which they or their people have been subjected j ellis island has suffered from the bad reputation of old castle garden which up to asso was the place of reception of inbound immigrants at new york but ellis island is not a place to be feared or dreaded it is clean and wholesome and comfortable and the COO employees of the government stationed there can handle in normal times as high as immigrants a day and complaints of discourtesy or unkindness kindness an are of the rarest occurrence the european war created new problems just as its termination will create many more and the bureau of immigration has endeavored to coni vert ellis island into a station lee ice to the incoming alien even though the enforcement of the law involves many hardships and disappointments the outbreak of the war found there nearly aliens who had been ordered deported but who could not then be returned to russia to austria to germany what to do with them was a problem their number was being augmented weekly by others arriving from other countries and those deported from this country because of some violation of the immigration statutes there were men women women and children detained for the most part they vere peasants they came from small towns and villages to relieve the situation playgrounds were ere opened on ellis island and the mothers and small email children were permitted to play upon the lawns the first day they were vere released from the station they rolled upon the earth and wept with joy from contact with the green grass and growing things classes wore were organized in sewing material was waa secured and the women were set to making clothes for than selves and their children the men were employed at mat making under the instruction of a sailor classes were organized in gymn gymnastics astles for the men while a school was temporarily opened for the purpose of educating the children the men and women were permitted to mingle more freely in the various detention rooms while e games were provided and other means of relaxation A new spirit animated the place and the attempts at escape which had been frequent came to an end organizations of foreign born people in and about new york became interested te in the situation they volunteered urite ered to aid in the llie relief of the tedium in agrest a great variety of ways one ot f the most interesting was the giving of sunday concerts in the great registry hall ball at the station which Is capable of seating 1500 people other agencies provided a motion picture outfit which presented motion pictures of the events of the week to those temporarily or permanently detained at the island they gave some suggestion of america and the news of the world growing out of these conditions the station itself was brightened by the placing of plants and growing things about the registry hall photographs illustrative of the natural resources and beauties of america were secured from the various departments at washington and placed in the detention rooms and the corridors the great registry hall was draped with american flags and hung with portraits of the presidents and pictures of events in american history underlying all this was the belief that the first contact of the alien with america should bo be one that would impress him with ith democracy with the new meaning that he be had a right to expect from government for over 98 per cent of those who come to this country aie are admitted to it the treatment they receive on oa entrance will ln in impress their heir minds with what america really is As a result of these efforts it Is believed th that it the greatest portal of the nation can be relieved relieve tl of tile the unhappy reputation which has unjustly attached to it and that it may in time be known as the place through throng it which tile the government receives anil and transmits those whom it invites to its shores with lis iii much courtesy kindness and consideration ns as the enforcement of the exclusion laws permits |
