CONDITIONS PRODUCE UNUSUAL LAWS
By L. A. R.
We have a striking illustration of this attempt to enact extreme laws, in some of the proposed legislation to control immigration. As says a note in the New York Evening Post: "The sciences are booming in Washington. Geography is being written anew by congressmen who are reconstructing the boundaries of Asia. Astonishing contributions to anthropology are being made by representatives of the American Federation of Labor, whose scent for racial distinctions is nothing short of marvelous. New principles of economics are embodied in bills providing for an international sliding wage-scale test." We are told that Secretary Wilson has one of the simplest of tests with regard to barring aliens. His test is a body weight and a stature which must be met in order to be admitted to the United States. The Evening Post ironically says: "By prescribing a minimum height of five feet four inches, the country is safeguarded against undesirable aliens of a stature so dangerous as that of Napoleon Bonaparte." There are other plans, such as limiting the number of immigrants admissible in a year, to a certain percentage of the number of their compatriots already in the United States. Another congressman has introduced a bill providing for an economic test whereby no adult male immigrant would be admitted unless he had already received wages amounting to a certain per cent of those prevailing for the same labor in this country. Some maintain that aliens should not be admitted who can not pass the physical tests required of recruits for the United States army. Speaking of the Hindu in this connection, the Brooklyn Eagle argues: "Now there is plenty of work in this country for persons who are not born to be soldiers or physically fitted to be soldiers. The Hindu, according to all reports, can work, is willing to work, and is a peaceful, decent element wherever he goes. But he is not a labor-unionist, and Secretary Wilson is." Thus men struggle with the difficulties in the world to-day. These difficulties will increase; and just as Jesus prophesied, so will it come true that there will be, just before His appearing, "distress of nations, with perplexity." Luke 21:25. As we have said before, it is a sign of the times.