THE 8EMI WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEDRA8KA.
OMit CA
oses
IIEIIIT
WAR CHIEF OF BRITAIN
mml
2&&f?ZlWfr !' .....-
(She government is doing
much to help those detained
at the Ellis Island Station dur
ing conflict-Commissioner
Howes efforts, tearing fruit
Ml
ISTHIl COMM1SII. 'scuso mo. When
you t'lnk? Dr. Frederick C. Howe.
commissioner of Immigration, wns
Pl.lil.l III II. 1.1 ............. .. I ,... II
H h1 1 Villi III llllt? IIIMIIJIUI ill IL'UOL U
Y dozen tliiius while showing a visitor
through (ho detention ward at 12111s
Island. The commissioner listened
patiently first to one mid then an
other, giving each a kindly answer,
Hays n writer In Hie New York Her-
nltl. Ainmir Minn,, U'lin nililrfiaund
lii ii were an elderly Italian woman, who talked
u th a gesturo expressive of the hopelessness with
v hlch she regarded tier case ; a young French
woman, petite and earnest looking, who, when
asked If she could cook, answered, "Tres hlen,"
and a young Itusslan Jew, who during a previous
stay In this country nerved In Slug Sing ami Is a
member of the Welfare league.
"They all want to get away," said Mr. Howe.
"Wo aro doing everything posslhlo to make It more
comfortable am1 homelike around here. We lmve re
moved many restrictions which heretofore existed,
on the theory that the more freedom they have the
moro orderly they are Inclined to conduct them.
Helves.
"Hut with nil this there Is bound to be a feeling
among those who are detained, for ouo reason or
Another, against their will that they aro Imprls
lncd. In later years, however, some of 'hcm 1 nm
uro, whether they are mlmlttcd to the country or
are sent back to their native land, will look back
on their stay at Kills Island as an Incident In their
lives that was not altogether unpleasant."
Most of the aliens now detained on the Island
have been there since the European war broke out.
, n all there were some ROO Germans, Hungarians
i oles, Russians and others being detained when
Doctor Howo first took op his duties as commls
M'.ner of Immigration, the majority of whom had
n ordered deported because of the violation of
th Immigration stntutes.
They were men, women and el ren-ponsunts
f .r the most pnrt-from mll towns and vlll ges
of Europe Before the order of deporf.Ulon could
i o carried out the steamship companies which I
brought most of these people over were rorced
withdraw their vesse.s from service o, act , ?,
the war, and consequently
uioso 10 wiiom admission
to tho country had been
denied wero forced to re
main on Kills Island. Some
of them have since been
admitted to tho country,
Iclthor conditionally or un-
conditionally.
Tho problem of making
life a Httlo moro pleasnnt
for thoso who remain Is
one which Doctor Howo
lias tried In a practical
way to solve. He has como
to know most of the un
fortunnto persons under his
Jurisdiction personally, and
wnqn no visits the deten-
ll!;;'1 10 f equently does, there are nl
She 1ue,l0" o answer and heartaches to
Late one afternoon last October Doctor Howe,
,"B n7"mtI t,lc 8,"tlon 011 n ' U,C80
'ours of Investigation, noticed a middle-aged won,-
!i.:, ' M!othorly appearance with two pretty
tittle girls cuddling up to her, Bitting In tho deten
,t on room. As tho hour was late and ho thought
they wore visitors Doctor Howe Inquired what thoy
were waiting for and If ho could do anything for
them.
1 Tho woman explained that she was British and
with her children had been ordered deported. They
hnd arrived from Great Britain about n month be
fore, but had no friends In this country and no
monoy and, therefore, had not been allowed to
enter.
Tho healthy uppearanco of tho two children, their
protty faces and their evident good breeding won
over tho commissioner on the spot, and ho Immedi
ately Interested himself In their case.
I Tho woman's name was Mrs. Itltn Horner, and
her story was this: "When tho war broke out sho
was living with her family, which, besides her bus
bund, consisted of two sons and threo dnughtors,
on a dairy farm some miles out of Capetown, South
Africa. Tho country about thorn was rugged aud
wild and the girls, despite their young years, wero
forced to walk many miles every dny to uttend
school. Tho sons, who wero older, helped to work
the farm.
"The husband and the two boys, along with most
of tho able-bodied men In thnt section, enlisted In
tho British army booh after war was declared and
wore sent to tho front. Thoy took part In tho
lighting In Belgium and northern Franco. One son
Was killed and tho father seriously wounded. All
trace of tho othor son hud been lost. Mrs. Horner
was unable to work the fnrm by herself, so sho
raised what monoy sho could and went to Englnnd
with her threo daughters Unu, fifteen years; IMrl,
ton years old, aud Hlta, nine yearn old. They
hnd not been In England long when Mrs. Horner
decided to como to America."
On hearing Mrs. Horner'H story Doctor Howo
communicated with Ihe authorities nt Washington.
Ho explained thnt these people- wero nil Strong
and healthy, thnt tho children wero beautiful and
that thero was no danger of them becoming a pub-
lie charge. Furthermore, ho announced his willing
nos.s to bo responsible for them, and u few days
after tho mnchlnery had been set In motion word
enmo back from Washington thut Mrs. Horner and
her children would bo relenBed In his custody.
Meantime the family had made friends with near
ly everybody on the Island. Tho watchman and
guards petted the children and guvo them many
little presents. The attendants did all they could
lo make them comfortable.
Despite these attentions the children sometimes
m. jmrminw
1 IS
II PlI P IPHI 1 11 1 ii 111
. - ffiii-ajafaJl3r II- Will
would act "us If lonesome. Notlclug this Doctor
Howe one day asked tho reason, a
"We are not lonely for people, but lonely for nnl
innls," they nnswered. In South Africa one of their
principal pastimes had been to trek through the
woods with their dogs. The Homers remained at
Ellis Island for soveral weeks after they had been
admitted to tho country; then Doctor Howe took
them up to a summer homo ho has In tho woods In
Westchester county.
There they hnve lived nil winter, enjoying life In
the open country, especially when snow was on tho
ground and tho deer tracks could bo followed
through the woods. Tho two younger girls possess
a knowlcdgo of woodcraft which Doctor Howe snys
Is really amazing, and they have no fear of getting
lost In the woods. They walk for miles In which
ever direction their fancy takes them, ulwnys find
ing their way back homo by tho sumo sort of In
stinct us that by which nn Indian Is guided.
Tho Interest shown by Doctor Howo In this pnr
tlculur enso was In keeping with his general policy
of so administering the affairs of Ellis Island that
those who como to this country from other lauds
with the intention of making a new homo for them
selves will be treated with as much kindness and
consideration as the enforcement of the exclusion
laws permits.
Tho enforcement of these laws is bound to cause
many hardships and disappointments, but Ellin Is
land Is no longer a place to bo dreaded. It Is clean,
wholesome and comfortable. The walls of tho
registry room, where the Incoming aliens receive
their llrst Impressions of America, are no longer
baro and forbidding. They have been draped with
American lings and hung with portraits of the pres
idents aud pictures of Important events In Amer
ican history. Palms ami other growing plants hnvo
been placed around tho room. Photographs Illus
trative of tho uuturnl beauties nnd resources of
America, procured from tho various government de
partments nt Wushlngton, hnvo been placed In the
detention room aud around tho corridors.
Every Sunday afternoon a concert Is given In the
registry room, tho music being furnished by some
one of the organizations of foreign-born persons In
and nbout New York city which lmvo volunteered
to furnish such entertainment. A movlig picture
outtU has also been provided by another group of
Interested persons, aud receptions are given 'very
Tliursdny night. These entertainments have done
much to brighten the lives of thoso who hnvo been
detained on the Island for months, Last summer to
relieve tho situation playgrounds wero opeue.1 on
tho Island, and mothers nnd children were per
mitted to play on tho lawns. The llrst day they
were released from tho stntlon they rolled upon tho
earth nnd wept with Joy from contact with the
green grass.
During tho winter months handball and other In
door games havo been provided, Classes In gym
nastics have been organized for tho men. The
women have been given Instruction In sewing nnd
provided with material to mnkc' clothes for them
selves and children. A school has been temporarily
opened to tench the children, nnd the New York
city public library authorities have donated a num
ber of books printed In German nnd other foreign
lunguages for the use of those who have a deslro
to read.
The men and women are permitted to mingle
tnore freely In the various detention wards, and as
a result of these Innovations the feeling which
prevails among those who have been long detained
at the station Is more cheerful than It was during
the llrst few months of the war. Attempts to es
cape, which were frequent ut one time, have como
to nn end.
"Ellis lslnnd Is the greatest portnl In tho world'
snld Doctor Howe. "There never hns been nuy por
tnl like It for humnn beings. In normal times near
ly a million persons enter the country through It
each year. They come largely from countries
where tho government means only mllltnrlsm nnd
taxes; they come to escape the feudal landlord,
from Industrial and social conditions which hnvo
become Intolerable. They come with hopes of n
fresh life, of n fresh chance, of opportunities for
themselves and their children. They carry with
them the visions of America which havo been In
delibly printed upon their minds from tho letters
which lmve gone back to Europe from frlcnd3 and
relatives nlready In this country.
"And the Immigration laws of Amerlcn hnvo, In
effect. If not In so many words, said that America
welcomed those who did not full within tho exclud
ed classes, thoso nflllcted by dlsense or who are
likely to become, a charge upon tho community. It
held out an Invitation to the strong nnd able
bodied to come nnd shure In tho tnnklng of n now
nation, free from nbusos nnd oppressions of tho old
world.
"And of thoso who come over OS per cent nro
admitted. The rest nro rcjoctwl becnuse they fall
within tho Inhibited clnsses. And It seemed to me
when I became commissioner of Immigration thnt
the first contnet of tho nllen with Amerlcn should
be one thnt would Impress upon his mind the thing
for which America stands ; thnt tho trentment they
should receive, tho experiences they should pass
through nnd tho cojitnet they hnd with olllclnls
weurlng tho uniform of the United Stntes should
be those of kindness, assistance and courtesy. They
come for tho most part with fear In their hearts;
they fear government rather thau love It. And
their Instinct Is to expect something vory like whnt
they received at home.
"First Impressions are lasting, and It has been
our effort nt Ellis Island to make theso Impressions
us democratic us possible, nnd to aid In as mnny
ways ns wo could In protecting tho Immigrant and
assisting him to his llnnl destination. For tho 1m
migrant Is Imposed on ho Is exploited. To prevent
this as much ns posslhlo olllccs have been opened
In New York city, one nt tho Burgo olllco, at South
Ferry, and tho othor nt SMO Bust Seventy-ninth
street, to which the Immigrant can go and procuro
nld, assistance and advice about matters thnt con
corn him. Through theso olllces lie Is directed to
schools nnd to the naturalization olllccs. The otll
ces co-operato with the police department und with
nil the many agencies In New York which hnve
been created to nld the Immigrant. At theso olllces
thero aro employment agencies which find work
for men und women, und which aim to distribute
them to farming positions to relievo tho congestion
In the cities.
"Similar protection hns been accorded tho alien
In transit to tho West, In securing tho best trans
position facilities nnd otherwise relieving tho Im
migrant from the dangers which beset him whllo
reaching his ultimate destination.
"War conditions brought probnbly 500 men,
women aud children to Ellis Island who for somo
reason or other had to go back to their natlvo bind ;
they were not ndmlsslblo to the country. Each of
these cases bus been Investigated personally, their
friends und relatives hnve been looked up, and In
the great majority of cases they have been ad
mitted on bo'nd to some person willing to bo re
sponsible for them, Positions havo been foundor
hundreds, from whom periodic reverts nro required
ns to how they are getting along. Only In very rare
cases lmve they failed to mako good. In many
Instances they havo risen rapidly und nro now enrn
lug very substantial sularles.
"Slmllnr efforts are being mndo to promote edu
cational advantages for the adult Immigrant to
encourage night schools. For the lust year the
names of all children of school age hnvo been
copied and sent to tho superintendents of educa
tion all over the country, In order thnt they might
Immediately place children In school upon their ar
rival at their destination. By theso menus the gov
ernment comes In Immedtato contact with tho sec
ond generation of Immigrants nnd begins its as
similation process as soon as they rench this
country."
From servnnt to bend of tho think
ing machine of the British army la tho
greatest wnr In history, this Is the
record of General Sir William Robert
son, who a few months ngo was ap
pointed chief of tho general staff nt
tho war olllco In London and vlrtunl
commnnder In chief of the British
nrmles.
Robertson's rise to tho very high
est possible position In the British
nrmy Is unique. There Is no other custi
on record of n ranker nttnlnlng the
highest command lu the British nrmy,
nnd only one other case In which a
ranker even enmo within mensurablo
dlstnncc of It.
Itobertson Is n genuine ranker, of
Scottish descent. He Is the son of n
fnrm luborcr In Lincolnshire, where hq
wns born llfty-slx years ngo, and his.
preliminary education was received nt
the village school. When ho left school
he worked In the fields for a time, nnd
then ho had a great stroke of luck for one of such humblo origin. lie became -a
butler In one of the great houses in tho neighborhood.
At eighteen the mllltury fever seized him nnd ho enlisted. lie chose n
crack regiment, the Sixteenth lnncers, and ho must havo made nn ideal cnvnlry
innn, for even now ho Is the beau ideal of a dashing soldier, tall, well set up,
nnd with nn extraordinary firm chin nnd Jnw. Ho hnd no one to help him along,
nnd he served in the ranks for ten yenrs, but beforo long his ambition was
roused, and ho probably foresaw that In his case tho soldier's knupsnck renlly
did contain the field marshal's baton.
He begnn then tho study of lnngunges nnd of military history, both of which
hnve stood him In such good stead In his subsequent career.
He is much llko Kitchener nnd possesses some of the characteristics
displayed by "K. of K." He Is u tireless worker, has a mind thnt works like
lightning, dispenses with red tape, is a mnsterly organizer and will have none
but clllclent, hnrd workers under him. Like Kitchener ulso he can say "No" to
a peer or n prince, nnd If he considers n decision uccessnry he does not hesltato
to announce It. llo Is a strict dlsclpllnurlnn, nnd while greutly admired nnd
respected for the honors he bus won, he Is at times feared by the officers.
c
CLAPP LIKES DAY TRAVEL
Although ho does n good deal of
traveling over the country, Senator
Moses E. Clapp of Minnesota rarely
travels nt night. This Is not due to
nny prejudice ngalust sleeping lu one
of the Pullman company's berths,
cither. Ho journeys by daylight sim
ply becnuse ho likes to do so. Not long
ngo he and a younger man had to go
on a trip of 14 hours or more, and tho
other man naturally proposed thnt
they go on n night train.
"Why do you want to go at night?"
asked Clapp, aB If the Idea of night
travel was a brand new wrinkle.
"To save time, of course," replied
tho mnn. "One has to sleep anyhow.
Otherwise one wastes nn entire dny."
"Waste a day!" exclnlmed Clnpp.
"On a train! What're you tnlklng
nbout? Why, n train's the very plnco
of nil places where you don't need to
wnsto yourtinie. You sit In your
office nnd people come In to Interrupt
you nnd you enn fritter away nn hour or two without accomplishing a thing.
Hut on a train there's the place to devote yourself to quiet rellectlon nnd think
things out. Nenrly every good thing I ever did I cnrefully thought out first
while looking out the window of n train. No, Indeed, you don't get me to go
by night unless I hnve to. The chance to have a nice long day on the train Is
too precious to let go by."
So they journeyed by dnyllght.
"OLD SHACK'S" POSER
Representative Wnrren Worth
Bnlley of Johnstown, Pn., Is a person
with definite views nbout things. When
ho favors or opposes a proposition ho
docs so with much earnestness and ln
tenseness. For example, he has long
been strongly In favor of nn adoption
of Henry George's single tax Ideas, nnd
Is equally strong In Ids opposition to
tho president's program for naval and
military preparedness.
One night Bailey sat In tho lobby
of tho hotel where ho lives In Wash
ington talking gravely about tho good
things In store for this nation just ns
soon ns single tnx comes to be gener
ally npplled throughout tho country.
Congressman Dorsey W. Shnckle
ford of Missouri wns sitting close by.
"Old Shnck," ns ho Is called, hns a
sense of humor, though ho doesn't
look it.
"I would like to nsk you just one
question," said he to Bnlley, nnd Bnlley
bnde him go abend. Ho wns fnlrly corfuln thnt ho could refute nny argument
Shnckleford might hnve ngnlnst the single-tax doctrine.
"Whnt I wnnt to know," propounded Shnckleford, "Is this: Why Is It thnt
thero wns never a single ense of appendicitis in this country until after Henry
George begnn to tnlk his single tux? Just answer me that I"
j CHINA'S NEW RULER "
Gen. LI Huan nung, who hns long
been recognized ns one of tho nblcst
soldiers' in China, Is now president of
tho Oriental republic, having succeed
ed tho lntc Yuan Shlh Knl, nnd It Is be
lieved tho change of rulers has put an
end to tho plans of tho Nanking trlum
vlrato and tho Peking mnndnrlnntc to
re-estnbllsh tho empire. Tho southern
Chlneso nro solidly behind tho new
president.
At tho same time, thero Is great
nnxlcty concerning tho attitude which
Jnpnn will take toward China. Gen
eral LI spent two years In Japan In
tho study of military affairs, and he Is
lookod upon ns favorublo to Japancso
lntlucnco In Chlnn. Ho is regarded as
tho representative of tho Japanese stu
dent clement In Chinese politics, as op
posed to tho American student cle
ment, which nlwnys was very Influen
tial under tho rule of Yuan Shlh ICal.
Tho Chlneso who wero educated In
Japan hnvo been prominent in tho three recent revolutions In China, and It Is
natural that they should como Into power under tho new regime.
