NOVEMBER 1925
THE UNITED AMERICAN
children? (They have in each of several hundred
families of those so affected in the solon’s own state,
I from one and two to six, eight and ten American born
[children.) Do you mean, indirectly, to suggest that
these young native Americans (several times the
number of their alien parents) be forced to leave their
native country here, and be, in a sense, deported to a
foreign country. Is that it?”
The Solon: “Why, the children don’t have tjo
leave because the parents go.”
The Editor: “Well, as this is not Russia, where
the state claims priority rights over the children of
the nation, your suggestion would not be practicable
inasmuch as the American state has not abolished the
home in favor of state incubators and child-rearing
factories. America, you know, stands committed to
the institution of the home. The principle that the
child belongs to the parents until it becomes of age,
has generally been held inviolate and up to the present
time considered a mighty sound American doctrine.”
The Solon: “Well, I am not willing to do anything
fQr them.”
The Editor: “Don’t you feel that at least these
young native Americans have a just claim, which no
fair compatriot can consistently turn down ?”
The Solon: “That may be so, but it does not alter
the fact that their parents are aliens and we certainly
didn’t invite them to come over here.”
The Editor: “Your parents, or your grandparents,
were aliens. Using your tool of reason and presuming
that no one invited them to come over here, doesn’t it
appear that there is a flaw in your own title and rights
as an American?”
The Solon: “I am an American. I was born here. I
have my rights. I can’t alter the things that have
taken place before me.”
The Editor: “The minors, now under discussion—
nation born American children, of foreign bom parents
—are with you in the same boat. Neither can they
help that their parents were born in a foreign land.
The fact remains that these white aliens, eligible to
citizenship, are the protectors, under the American
home-code, of these growing American children who
are only asking you to be fair to them and not interfere
with their rights, the rights of every American child,
that its parents be given every fair chance to offer
it proper protection and equal advantages.”
The Solon was clearly in a corner. Unwilling to
admit the logic of the editor’s argument and looking
for an opportunity to get away, he stuttered: Excuse
me, there is a man I want to see,” and bolted away,
scratching his head as he strode down the hotel lobby
to join some men in conversation in a far corner of
the spacious room.
A SADLY NEEDED CHANGE
'THE NEW immigration quota law is slated to be-
1 come the target for much oratory in the next
Congress, according to promises made by congressmen
and senators whose constituencies are clamoring for
more public discussion anent this measure, or rather
anent the inequality phases that are outstanding
features of the law.
Congressman Albert Johnson from Washington,
Fage Eleven
chairman of the House Immigration Committee, who is
generally considered the father of the present two
per cent quota law, is evidently not so sure of the
justice of the law, in some respects, for he is quoted in
press notices as having said in a speech before the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday the
twenty-sixth of November, that while he is opposed to
any other change in the law, he favors a modification
clause to permit “admission of the wives and minor
children of men already in this country.”
Much injustice has been done, and outright mischief
through this law in this particular respect. To under
stand how this phase of the law resulted in such in
justice it should be borne in mind that thousands of
men with families are leaving the old countries and
their loved ones behind — now as always throughout
the history of immigration — to seek the greater op
portunities they have heard of in America. The plan
is for the father to find work, send a little money
every month to help in the support of the family, left
to a faithful wife to care for until the husband and
father has been able to save up enough for tickets for
those left behind, and something for just a little home,
to begin with, when the family shall arrive. Of all the
joy collected by human beings in America in all the
country’s history, there is no joy that can match the
joy of a reunited immigrant family after years of
struggle, the husband and father laboring alone over
here saving and planning, banking his entire pay-check
every month, save a few dollars for his own board and
lodging, and the regular monthly allowance for wife and
children accompanied by letters of cheer, the wife keep
ing up the courage under difficulties, saving and work
ing, hoping for the happy day to come when, the tickets
shall arrive from dad in America. Then the intense
moments — the tickets — the good-bye to the old home
land— the long ocean journey — the landing in Amer
ica — the arrival at the little railroad station, where
dad is waiting — the reunion and, at last, the family at
ease in the little humble harbor called home, created
through love and prayers. If anyone can draw a picture
depicting a more complete background for joy, then
there is something yet undiscovered in Ameriea.
Since the lowering of the quota on immigration, al
most totally excluding some nationalities, the hopes of
struggling aliens, trying to provide an American home
for their loved ones, have been shattered, because they
could not expect, perhaps for their natural lives, to get
their families to America, as no provision was made
with a view to meting out justice to those people.
Incidentally the Naturalization examiners, in most
districts, will not admit to citizenship an alien with a
family in the old country. If such is the case he is told:
“Bring your family over here, then come back again.”
Were he a citizen, he could claim his family and obtain
admission for them into this country, outside of the
quota. Such is the law.
To anyone, even one not familiar with anything
pertaining to immigrant life, such laws appear to be
more of a farce than anything intelligent American
law-makers should want to stand responsible for.
It is indeed gratifying to know that this vital con
cession to the aliens in America, with families in the
old countries who are waiting for tickets to come, is to