Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

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immigration uui altr (jpurstimta it Smtolnra By CARRIE SLOAT 'HR immigration question lias been one on which the t'nited States government has spent much time and money, and it lias been stated that it is next in importance to the liquor question. The million that came last year and the million that will undoubtedly come this year places upon the American people a res|K nsihility and duty. If we do not want foreigners to rule us we must lie quick to act and Americanize them. It lias lieen said. “The amazing thing in Americans is their utter indifference or supine optimism. They have looked very hopefully upon this great problem and passed It lightly by. thinking the matter would adjust itself, hut the continual coming has made it a very serious problem to solve though many are trying to find a solution. We need to take a trip with some of these foreigners starthig at their foreign home and finally landingat Hills Island, in order to know more almut this subject. The examinations they are forced to take, are very exact, before they leave their country they answer a long list of questions, tilling out the official record which the law requires the vessel masters toohtain. and deliver to the government officers at the entrance |x rt. If the answers are satisfactory they are given a card with their name and numlter of their group, which is then placed upon them in plain sight. Then tlie ten days of travel, mingled with all kind of distress and trials add to the unforgetful experiences of the immigrant. The next examination is when the inspection officials come on iioard to hunt for infectious or contagious diseases. Those that pass satisfactorily, are then taken to the pier, and thrust into the midst of confusion. The sight at this point is wonderful. Families try to keep together, crying children add to the confusion of tongues: all sorts of people, with all sorts of luggage are ail trying to make the landing first. As t hey pass down the gangway the numliers are taken by an officer with a mechanical checker, and then tbey pass into a somber building. Here the confusion increases and very often the dockmen guards are forced to liecome severe. Finally the inspector reaches them as fast as possible and they are hustled along in a throng to a barge that is waiting. The next step is Ellis Island, whose great buildings look inviting. Out of the barge they are sent with the crowd to the grand entrance. The officer on the stairs, familiar with nearly all languages, calls to them to show their health tickets, which are usually carried in the mouth. I»ecause their hands are full of children or luggage. At the head of the long stairs they are met by a uniformed officer who takes the tickets, glances at them and stam| s them Ellis Island. Counting the quarantine officer as number one, this makes officer numlter two. s they reacli the head of tlie stairs they pass into .1 large hall divided into equal parts: directed by an officer they are turned into a narrow passage where they meet officer numlter three, lie is the first medical inspector. As they pass him. one by one. they are.stopped only for a moment. They are given some sharp glances, for lie is looking for favus or contagious skin diseases, lie usually nods and places a chalk mark on them. About thirty feet farther on. they are met by officer number four. He has a towel and a small instrument in his hand, and a basin of disinfectants. As they pa.s one by one. he applies the instrument to the eyes, raising the lids and quickly putting them down again, lie is looking for the dreaded eye disease. He also marks them. As they move along some of their companions have been marked differently and they are sent to a different railed off space, known as the detention pen, where they have a more rigid examination. After resting awhile In a large, room they inarch single file to officer num-lx rfive. As each person's turn comes they are asked a lot of quest ions. If their answers are satisfactory they are tagged “ K with “It which means they are bound for a railroad station. After having their railroad ticket stamped, and tlielr money exchanged for Cubed States money: they are guided to the station and put on the train which takes them to their assigned places. Thus they are left to their own wishes in the land of America. If we were to gather these throngs of people that have already come to America by nationality, we would have twenty-two Italian cities of ten thousand people: a single city nearly as large as Hetroit of branches of Austria-Hungary: four Herman cities of ten thousand people: six of Scandlnav-ins: one of French: one of Creeks: one of Japanese: six and a half of English: five of Irish: and nearly two of Scotch and Welsh. Besides many more small villages of other nationaHtes. Some one who was watching them pass as they went from Ellis Island asked. Why. where do they all come from. It was answered.“from northern and southern Europe, from Austria-Hungary. Italy. Russia. Assyria, and from all the countries across the oceans. These different people come to us mainly for three reasons. (1) Attrac- l!»