Henry Pratt Fairchild

The Literacy Test and Its Making

Noteworthy provisions, other than the literacy test, in the act of 1917, 448. — The literacy test itself significant of a change in public opinion, 449. — The earlier acts aimed at selection only, 451. — The literacy test a measure of restriction, 452. — The bill of 1897, vetoed by President Cleveland, 453. — Speaker Cannons successful manoeuvers against a similar bill in 1906, 455. — President Tafts veto of 1913, 456. — President Wilsons veto of 1915, 459. — The act of 1917 finally passed over the veto, 459.

The Paradox of Immigration

In almost every popular discussion of the immigration problem-and there is scarcely a question of public interest on which the average citizen feels himself more thoroughly qualified to express an opinion-two fundamental principles are assumed. These are, first, that immigration increases the population of the United States by an amount equal to the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants; and secondly, that emigration from European countries reduces the population there, relieves congestion, and by serving as an outlet for the excess of people, improves conditions. These two propositions having been taken for granted, the argument proceeds in one direction or another according to the observation, taste, prejudices, or interests of the arguer. A moments reflection will show to what extent the validity of the stock arguments on these topics rests upon the truth or falsity of these fundanental assumptions. And it is inevitable that it should be so, for the effect of immigration movements on density of population lies at the very heart of the whole matter. Since this is the case, it is tremendously important for the true understanding of the immigration problem, that these two propositions be subjected to the severest scrutiny, and the result of the investigation be firmly impressed on the minds of students of the subject, and of the populace in general. At the outset, however, we must candidly face the fact that we are not likely ever to arrive at a positive proof, one way or the other. Like so many other social phenomena, changes in population are affected by so many and so complicated influences, that it is impossible to arrive at a mathematical demonstration of any one factor, which involves the elimination of all others. Immigration may affect population, but so do war, vice, hard

Public Opinion on Immigration

trary, were equipped with the best devices known at the time for forcibly subjugating other groups, and for developing their resources and bringing their land to maximum agricultural and industrial productiveness. The situation therefore took on the practical aspect of representatives of a highly developed culture being given the opportunity to utilize vast areas of virtually uninhabited land. To put it in other terms, probably for the first time in human existence true economic underpopulation developed on

LENGYEL, EMIL. Americans from Hungary. Pp. 319. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1948:

even listing them here. Examples are, the rejection of Europe, necessitating rejection of the father, with consequent rejection of authoritarianism; domination by the mother; and the cult of the child as the hope of the future. The interrelation between the themes is indicated subtly and persuasively. The book is excellently written and shows brilliant insight into many aspects of American behavior. However, it is likely to evoke more controversy than con-

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incidence that the birth control movement in the United States got its initial impetus from a woman who was in a position to be deeply impressed and profoundly disturbed by the widespread suffering, sickness, and death prevalent among American women as the result of excessive pregnancy and childbearing. This woman was Margaret Sanger, whose experiences as a trained nurse brought her in daily contact with the situation, and whose personal involvement in one or two exceptionally tragic

Family Limitation and the War

Because of the interrelation of relief, recovery, and reconstruction it is difficult to appraise the measures of the New Deal in terms of reconstruction. Reconstruction may be divided into its economic and political aspects. Many of the features of the N.R.A. might be interpreted as steps in a reconstruction program if it were certain that they were intended to be permanent. Neither the C.W.A., the P.W.A., nor the C.C.C. can be regarded as satisfactory steps to reconstruction, since they represent an authoritative transfer of purchasing power outside the channels of normal economic relations. The N.R.A., if intended as a pattern of reconstruction, is inadequate, as it perpetuates the conflict relation in industry, and is predicated upon the continuance of the profit motive. It is difficult to find any features in the economic plase of the New Deal that promise sound reconstruction. On the political side there are many more sweeping and hopeful changes, such as the extension of federal functions, an effort at national planning, the recognition of government responsibility and rights over business, and most of all a new spirit of interest in, and responsibility for, the welfare of the citizen.

The Beginnings of Reconstruction

Four periods in the history of immigration policy, marked by the years 1830, 1882, 1917, 654. — The act of 1917 and the literacy test, 656. — The act of 1924 and the forces back of it, 659. — Its provisions, 660. — The Japanese question, 664.

The Immigration Law of 1924

ONE of the knottiest problems which will have to be faced in ― the establishment of a world state or a league of nations will be the question of the movement of people. Under the national economy which has prevailed hitherto, every state has assumed its own right to determine what should be the constituents of its population so far as extrinsic contributions were concernedin other words, the right to control immigration-and few states, with the exception of Japan, have questioned the legal or moral right of other states to make such a determination. On the other