Save Immigration: Movement Urged by New York Jewish Daily to Prevent Complete Closing of American GA

The failure of the immigration stoppage bill in the Senate has given us immigrants a chance to take a breath and make plans for the future, the Yiddish daily here, the “Day”, writes in an editorial article under the heading. “Can we save immigration?”. If the bill had gone through, it says, it would have meant the death of immigration to America for ever. A tenth of the present quota, which is what the bill would have left us, could not be treated as a stream of immigration, and as for the point that this closing of the doors was to be only temporary, we know only too well, that once a law is enacted it is very hard, if not altogether impossible, to get it repealed. It is clear that if the immigration bill had been passed it would have meant the end of immigration to the United States.

We must therefore see to it, the “Day” writes, that we do something that will give us the possibility of hoping that the danger which has now been narrowly averted should not recur. There is no doubt at all that at the first meeting of the next Congress, this same immigration bill will be brought up again. Our chances, then, if we still have any, depend on the amount of work we do in the interval between now and the meeting of the next Congress. The work must be one of enlightenment. We must make use of every means we can to explain to American public opinion that immigration to America is not a hindrance to the development of the country, but that it provides, on the contrary, a great and important element in the progress of the country. This propaganda work, if it is to be successful must, of course, be conducted on a gigantic scale. We must set up committees of important people, who will acquaint American public opinion with the services and achievements of the immigrants. As far as possible, these committees should consist of American-born, representative of both the big parties. The press must be drawn into the campaign, by getting it to print articles giving the point of view of the immigrant. We must print pamphlets and other literature, which will have to be circulated in all parts of America, telling the people at large what a big part immigrants have played in the history of the country. A special office should be opened in Washington, which would devote itself to immigrant questions. These things should be done immediately, with the aid of all the immigrant groups without exception. The trouble till now has been that the various immigrant groups have not kept together, but that they have confined themselves to protesting when the knife seemed already at their throat. That is where they were wrong. If it is to be effective, the work must be done in quiet times. When the danger is near, it is too late to do anything. The failure of the immigration bill in the Senate gives us a fine opportunity to save immigration in America if we make proper use of the few months still left to us, so that when Congress meets again we shall not have to look for miracles to save immigration.