Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/42

 38 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

To provide for these contingencies, therefore, the Secretary of Commerce and Labor has issued special instructions, incorpo- rated in two departmental circulars, with reference to the more expeditious disposal of cases of alien anarchists and criminals as well as of alien women and girls found to be leading an immoral life. The secretary specifically directs that "when it is impracti- cable to ascertain the date of the alien's arrival, by reason of his concealing it or refusing to disclose it, it may be assumed for the purpose of the preliminary proceedings that the date of his land- ing is within the three years fixed by the statute." The burden of proving the contrary in such cases is thus cast upon the alien involved.

It is probable that this regulation fills the gap in the existing law as well as practicable. But there has arisen the demand for legislation to provide a distinct and separate basis for treating the cases of alien felons, criminals, and anarchists whose criminal record, belief, or practice is established, recognized, or demon- strated subsequent to landing. One of the sources of this demand is seen in the attitude of the great body of our immigrant popu- lation whose true interests are obviously identical with those of the nation. From this standpoint it is but a step to a recognition of the fact that their interests may be especially subserved by the provision of more effective means for ridding the country of undesirable aliens the results of whose activities are peculiarly harmful to the fair name of the respectable foreign element. To retain such aliens in our communities, moreover, is to invite the establishment of a professionally criminal class. Their acquire- ment of a domicile implies the creation of homes with children who may perpetuate and increase the number of the undesirable type. If the United States is ever to be seriously afflicted with the disease of anarchism its source may be traced to infection from alien anarchists. The epidemic will be spread, however, by the offspring of the alien criminal class in this country.

These possible eventualities are not pleasant to contemplate. It may be that the existing tendencies are overrated. Neverthe- less there are substantial grounds for advocating more stringent measures in dealing with the alien criminal classes. It is believed