National Affairs: Animadversion

Several officials and ex-officials of the immigration service commented on the Geddes report. Eight months have passed since the inspection was made and conditions are now somewhat altered. There is a newCommissioner at Ellis Island; some of the reviewing of cases which was formerly done at Washington is now done on the spot, and plans are under way for examining immigrants abroad.

Secretary of Labor Davis declared that Ambassador Geddes had got to the root of the matter when he said that the chief difficulty lies in the immigrants themselves, and added that $100,000 is being spent this year on painting and repairing immigration stations.

Commissioner Wallis, formerly in charge of Ellis Island, agreed with the British Ambassador, saying: ” Ellis Island would melt a heart of granite. It is literally a vale of tears.”

Commissioner Tod, who occupied the same post more recently, agreed that Ellis Island needed renovation.

Commissioner Curran, present incumbent, denied that proper repairs are not being carried out, that any ” greasy dirt” is left in the corners, that Ellis Island is “institutional,” that ” Americanization” speeches are made.

In this connection a political mud-slinging contest sprang up. CommissionerWallis was a Wilson appointee. Commissioners Tod and Curran were Harding appointees. Mr. Tod was described by Ambassador Geddes as “a gentleman of independent means . . . who holds office for patriotic reasons. Any country might be proud to point to him as one of its officials.” But Republican Mr. Curran did not treat Democratic Mr. Wallis with equal consideration. He accused the former Commissioner of using his post for political ends and denied that Ellis island was ” a vale of tears.” Mr. Curran further added that ” Americanization ” speeches took place in the days when Mr. Wallis was campaigning to become Mayor of New York—that immigrants were herded into the hot sun while Mr. Wallis and his followers addressed them from a shaded spot. One account (not specifically attributed to Mr. Curran) related that one of Mr. Wallis’ friends addressed the immigrants, saying: ” My friends, you have heard Commissioner Wallis mentioned for Mayor of this great city, but he is a greater man than that.” Ditto for Governor of New York. Ditto for President of the U. S. ” I nominate my friend, Commission Wallis, for President of the World!”