Delegation of Declarants Appears Before House Immigration Committee

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The House Immigration Committee heard an appeal yesterday from the victims of the present quota law, whereby husbands are separated from their wives and children, when a delegation of six Jewish declarants, representing the Alliance of Declarants and Future Citizens, New York, appeared before the Committee.

A striking impression was made by the delegates. Their English was mixed with Yiddish, although its was surprisingly good for persons who have been in this country so short a time.

Observers declared that the poor English of these humble immigrants had been more impressive than the fiery cloquence of others. Congressman Dickstein, who secured permission for their appearance before the committee, stated following the hearing that the appearance of the delegation had made such an impression that he now has no doubt relief will be granted.

The men who appeared before the committee were Joseph Danowsky, president of the Alliance of Declarants and Future Citizens, a Hebrew teacher from Poland, who left his wife and three children in Europe; Paul Schochet, vice-president of the organization, who came from Esthonia where he left his wife and two children. He declared that he had never seen his youngest child who was born while he was on board ship on his way to America. He is a dealer in general merchandise. Hyman Abel, a Hebrew teacher, William Prinz, a vest-maker, Moses Liebman, who came from Galicia, an importer of Swiss watches, Philip Reiss, a salesman of pianos and phonographs, who came from Vienna.

All the men have saved money sufficient to bring their families to America. All have been studying English and American government.

Before Dickstein introduced the delegation, Chairman Johnson read the following statement submitted by the delegation.

“We, a committee representing seven hundred declarants having procured through your kind consent this hearing, do hereby offer for your consideration some information which may familiarize you with our organization, the Alliance of Declarants and Future Citizens, which is now organized for more than a year and a half. It is composed of men and women who have declared their intention and who have organized for the purpose of educating the foreigners to bring them nearer the American ideals and thoughts and to help them to procure more easily, their citizenship papers. We are all foreigners who have chosen this land as the place of our abode by choice and not by accident of birth. We have, however, left all that is dear to us on the other side.

“We are in a financial position to provide for our families and we are eager to give our children the proper American education. We are eager to plant in their young hearts and minds the love we bear for America and to raise them in the true spirit of America.

“Most of our money, in fact, all we can spare, is sent to the other side, whereas, it could have remained here. The outcries of our families are great.

“Our organization has also received letters of appeal from wives, whose husbands have given up the hope of bringing them over, who have all lost their ambition, consequently they have been left to suffer there alone, unprotected and unguarded. Therefore, honorable lawmakers, we have come to lay before you our terrible problem in the hope that you will find some solution for it. You are our last hope. Again we beg of you, for the sake of our families who are suffering there and for us who are suffering here, to give us your support.”

Unclear

Unclear