ON ELLIS ISLAND

Evening Star, Issue 18032, 28 July 1922, Page 3

ON ELLIS ISLAND

AMERICA'S BARRED DOOR. AN AUSTRALIAN’S STORY. A graphic description of the treatment of persons desiring to land in America, but detained by the authorities because the quota of arrivals from their country for the month was full, is given in a letter received 1 by relatives from Mr R. V. Reynolds, whoso father, Mr H. Reynolds, was formerly station faster at Yackandandah, Victoria, and whoso mother is the daughter of the late Rev. John Wcstacott. Having been accepted as a student at the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, with the object of becoming a missionary in Africa, Mr R. V. Reynolds, a young man, had his papers approved by the shipping company at Southampton and his passport vised by the American Consul in London. His papers being in order, ho was given to understand that no trouble need be expected when he arrived at New York. When he reached there, however, he was told that the Australian quota was full. In the following letter to his mother (says the Melbourne ‘Argus’), ho sets out his experiences at the hands of the American immigration authorities: “I wrote a letter to you when, nearing New York Harbor the night before last. Well, we were alongside the pier yesterday morning (May 10) after breakfast, but it took several hours before people could get their landing tickets filled up. The immigration authorities have detained me at Ellis Island, because the Australian quota is full. They brought me across here yesterday, lunch, time. After passing through a large hall they pinned a big blue ticket on my coat, with my name, Olympic, and date, then sent me to another room, where about ninety people or so were all huddled together. After being locked in this room (windows barred) for about two hours or so, we were all sent downstairs to a big hall for tea. Oh, it just about made me sick. Blacks, browns, yellows, and whites of all nationalities were mixed up. The meal consisted of dry bread, some ‘ high ’ polony, and brwown beans, with two mugs of tea. I paid half a dollar for a piece of ateak (a special privilege given to me). Then we were all sent back to the small room above. It was awful.

■ “I counted about eighty-seven persons, oil in one small room. After another wait of an hour or so we were sent into a big hall, and a picture was shown. Then about forty other men (?) and myself were put into a little room to sleep, 1 did not have any pyjamas or anything, so just went to sleep dressed. They gave each person three blankets, which I think could have just about walked away, for I was scratching myself all over. What a night! In the morning I washed and wiped myself on a piece of paper. I have been waiting _ all the morning for my turn to go before the authorities, but so far I cannot say when I ■will be let out. , It is far from pleasant being locked in here—doors and windows barred. And the irony of it is that just a little way out is the great statue of ‘Liberty’ looking at us. “A lot of liberty in this country, it strikes me. What a difference between Southampton and New York. Americans can land at Southampton as easily as anything, and go away up to London by special train. Here in New York wo get treated like so many dogs. Kept four or five hours at the docks, then goodness knows how long at Eilis Island, before we know whether we are to be allowed to land or not.” When this letter was received in London, Mrs Reynolds called on the American Consul, and asked if it were true that the con-, ditions described actually existed. She pointed out that her son had ■ actually been accepted as a student by a Chicago college, and that bis papers were- all in order. The Consul admitted that unfortunately the conditions described did exist. Ho was asked why people were allowed to land, and he replied that everyone must take a risk. If the quota of their country was full, then they must conform’ to the American laws, and either go to Ellis Island, irrespective of color or social standing, ’or return by the same steamer. The office of the Hign Oommdisioner of Australia was next visited, but Mrs Reynolds was informed' that the matter had been a source of worry to the officials there for some time. Several communications had been sent to the Americans with regard to it, but with very little result. In one case it was stated a Mies Watkins had to sleep in e small room with twenty black women, and had also had filthy blankets issued to her. After having waited for eight days, Mr Reynolds was allowed to land. His relatives are of the opinion that the matter should be taken up by the Federal Ministry in an endeavor to have the Australian monthly quota increased and the conditions at BUJs Island improved.