JAPANESE AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.

The immigration situation on the Pacific slope differs materially from that in the States east of the Rocky Mountains. Because of the geographical location there has been no large movement of European immigrants to the coast States. Oriental immigration, however, was early attracted to California, and the coming of the Chinese was soon followed by a determined opposition to the immigration of that race, and this opposition has continued unabated.

In 1882 a law excluding Chinese of the laboring classes was enacted," and such exclusion has continued to the present time. The various laws have resulted in a steady decrease of the Chinese population until the immigration of that race is no longer a problem of present importance. In later years Japanese immigration assumed considerable proportions, but through a provision of the immigration law of 1907 and by agreement with the Government of Japan this movement has been checked, and during the past two years the number of Japanese leaving the country has exceeded the number admitted. Recently a relatively small number of East Indians have immigrated to the coast States, and while there is no provision for the exclusion of this race their coming has been discouraged by the Federal Government. Though sentiment is divided in the matter of Asiatic immigration, the people of the coast States as a whole are opposed to such immigration, and the force and validity of their objections are recognized.

In the southern section of the Western division immigration from Mexico has become an important factor in the situation, the immigration of that race corresponding somewhat to some of the southern and eastern European races coming to the eastern States. This resemblance lies chiefly in the fact that they as a rule do not come as settlers, but as a transient and migratory unskilled labor supply. Their presence, as well as the presence of the Japanese, is reflected in the rather low economic conditions which exist in mining, railroad labor, and some other activities. The Japanese are now an important factor in the agricultural and horticultural industries in California. and other States, and also in the fish canneries in Washington and Oregon, and in the city trades. The East Indian has not yet come in sufficient numbers to be an important factor, but the comparatively few who have been admitted have been utilized as common laborers in various industries. One-eighth of the total population and more than three-fifths of the foreign-born on the Pacific slope are natives of the north and west of Europe, while only 2.6 per cent of the population are from southern and eastern European countries. The European peoples are well distributed geographically and industrially, and they have aided materially in developing industry, particularly the fruit and wine growing peculiar to the coast States, and especially California. There is a general demand for more Europeans, both as settlers on the land and as agricultural and other laborers. It is anticipated that with the opening of the Panama Canal direct steamship communication with Europe will result in an increase of direct European immigration to the coast.

a See Vol. II, pp. 785-788.

See Vol. II, pp. 732 and 757-758.
See Vol. II, p. 584.

72289°-VOL 1-11-4

ASSIMILATION OF IMMIGRANTS.

It is difficult to define and still more difficult to correctly measure the tendency of newer immigrant races toward Americanization, or assimilation into the body of the American people. If, however, the tendency to acquire citizenship, to learn the English language, and to abandon native customs and standards of living may be considered as factors, it is found that many of the more recent immigrants are backward in this regard, while some others have made excellent progress. The absence of family life, which is so conspicuous among many southern and eastern Europeans in the United States, is undoubtedly the influence which most effectively retards assimilation. The great majority of some of these races are represented in the United States by single men or men whose wives and families are in their native country. It is a common practice for men of this class in industrial communities to live in boarding or rooming groups, and as they are also usually associated with each other in their work they do not come in contact with Americans, and consequently have little or no incentive to learn the English language, become acquainted with American institutions, or adopt American standards. In the case of families, however, the process of assimilation is usually much more rapid. The families as a rule live in much more wholesome surroundings, and are reached by more of the agencies which promote assimilation. The most potent influence in promoting the assimilation of the family is the children, who, through contact with American life in the schools, almost invariably act as the unconscious agents in the uplift of their parents. Moreover, as the children grow older and become wage earners, they usually enter some higher occupation than that of their fathers, and in such cases the Americanizing influence upon their parents continues until frequently the whole family is gradually led away from the old surroundings and old standards into those more nearly American. This influence of the children is potent among immigrants in the great cities, as well as in the smaller industrial centers.

Among the new immigration as a whole the tendency to become naturalized citizens, even among those who have been here five years. or more, is not great, although much more pronounced in some races than in others. This result is influenced by language considerations and by the fact that naturalization is accomplished with greater difficulty than formerly, as the requirements are higher and expense greater, and that adequate facilities are not in all cases provided. Another reason is that many do not regard their stay here as per

manent.

In recent years the work of promoting the welfare and assisting in the assimilation of recent immigrants has been inaugurated on a large scale by various religious and civic organizations. Until recently a great part of the efforts of this nature was carried on by organizations of the various races or peoples, but now the movement has been joined by organizations composed of all classes of citizens. In general this propaganda is in the main divorced from any semblance of proselyting and is confined to practical efforts calculated to promote the well-being and advancement of the immigrant. Most of the societies lay particular stress upon influencing the immigrant

to become acquainted with the duties and privileges of American citizenship and civilization. Teaching the English language and the primary branches of learning is a prominent feature in most of this work. It does not appear that the Federal Government can directly assist in this work, but where possible effort should be made to promote the activities of these organizations.

CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS IN SCHOOLS.

A census of 2,036,376 pupils in schools in 37 cities shows that 847,423, or 41.6 per cent of the total, were children of native-born fathers, and 1,188,953, or 58.4 per cent of the total, were children of foreign-born fathers that is to say, both native-born and foreignborn children whose fathers were born abroad. Of the 1,815,217 pupils in the public schools of 37 cities, 42.2 per cent were children of native-born fathers, and 57.8 per cent were children of foreignborn fathers. Of the 221,159 pupils in the parochial schools of 24 cities, 36.5 per cent were children of native-born fathers, and 63.5 per cent were children of foreign-born fathers. The study covers practically all of the large cities in all parts of the country and a number of smaller cities whose population includes a large proportion of foreign-born persons.

Several cities have particularly large proportions of children of foreign-born fathers among the public-school pupils. These cities are Chelsea, Mass., 74.1 per cent, Duluth, Minn., 74.1 per cent, and New York, N. Y., 71.5 per cent. In New Orleans only 18.1 per cent of the public-school pupils are children of foreign-born fathers.

The proportion of public-school pupils in the high school is 9.1 per cent for the children of native-born white fathers, and only 4.7 per cent for the children of foreign-born fathers, although a larger proportion of the pupils of two foreign races-the Canadian (other than French) and the Scotch-than of the native-born white are in the high school. Of the pupils who are children of foreign-born fathers, three races-the Portuguese, Slovak, and South Italianshow less than 1 per cent in the high school.

Among pupils of some of the immigrant races the proportion of children older than the normal age for their grade is less than the proportion among pupils who are children of native-born white fathers, but among several of the races of recent immigration a much larger proportion are older than the normal age for their grade.

Among the non-English-speaking races a much greater proportion are retarded of children in homes where English is not spoken than of children in homes where English has been adopted as the language commonly used by the family.

CHANGES IN BODILY FORM OF DESCENDANTS OF IMMIGRANTS.

The question of the assimilation of immigrants under American conditions has long been looked upon as vital, and it has been much discussed, but heretofore with little accurate information. Speaking from general personal observation, people have thought that under the influence of the existing educational, social, and political con

a See Vol. II, pp: 1-86.

ditions the immigrants gradually change their habits of life and their ways of thinking, and thus become Americans. Little or no thought has been given to the possible effect of these conditions on the physical type of the descendants of immigrants. It was suggested to the Commission that if measurements of the bodies of European immigrants and their descendants at different ages and under different circumstances could be made in a careful way by scientific anthropometrists, valuable results might be reached. One of the best experts on this subject, Prof. Franz Boas, of Columbia University, was invited to direct the investigation and was put in general charge. Although the investigation has been carried on only in New York City and its immediate vicinity and with only a few races, the results, in the opinion of Professor Boas, are much more far-reaching than was anticipated. It is probably not too much to say that they indicate a discovery in anthropological science that is fundamental in importance. The report indicates that the descendant of the European immigrant changes his type even in the first generation almost entirely, children born not more than a few years after the arrival of the immigrant parents in America developing in such a way that they differ in type essentially from their foreign-born parents. These differences seem to develop during the earliest childhood and persist throughout life. It seems that every part of the body is influenced in this way, and that even the form of the head, which has always been considered one of the most permanent hereditary features, undergoes considerable change.

The importance of this entirely unexpected result lies in the fact that even those characteristics which modern science has led us to consider as most stable seem to be subject to thorough changes under the new environment, which would indicate that even racial physical characteristics do not survive under the new social and climatic environment of America. The investigation has awakened the liveliest interest in scientific circles here and abroad, and as the subject is one of great importance the Commission expresses strongly the hope that by either private or public means the work may be continued.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

As a result of the investigation the Commission is unanimously of the opinion that in framing legislation emphasis should be laid upon the following principles:

1. While the American people, as in the past, welcome the oppressed of other lands, care should be taken that immigration be such both in quality and quantity as not to make too difficult the process of assimilation.

2. Since the existing law and further special legislation recommended in this report deal with the physically and morally unfit, further general legislation concerning the admission of aliens should be based primarily upon economic or business considerations touching the prosperity and economic well-being of our people.

3. The measure of the rational, healthy development of a country is not the extent of its investment of capital, its output of products, or its exports and imports, unless there is a corresponding economic opportunity afforded to the citizen dependent upon employment for his material, mental, and moral development.

4. The development of business may be brought about by means which lower the standard of living of the wage earners. A slow expansion of industry which would permit the adaptation and assimilation of the incoming labor supply is preferable to a very rapid industrial expansion which results in the immigration of laborers of low standards and efficiency, who imperil the American standard of wages and conditions of employment.

The Commission agrees that:

1. To protect the United States more effectively against the immigration of criminal and certain other debarred classes

(a) Aliens convicted of serious crimes within a period of five years after admission should be deported in accordance with the provisions of House bill 20980, Sixty-first Congress, second session.

(b) Under the provisions of section 39 of the immigration act of February 20, 1907, the President should appoint commissioners to make arrangements with such countries as have adequate police records to supply emigrants with copies of such records, and that thereafter immigrants from such countries should be admitted to the United States only upon the production of proper certificates showing an absence of convictions for excludable crimes.

(c) So far as practicable the immigration laws should be so amended as to be made applicable to alien seamen.

(d) Any alien who becomes a public charge within three years after his arrival in this country should be subject to deportation in the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor.

a See Vol. II, pp. 742 and 743.