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A careful study of the various figures here gathered together may perhaps, as in the case of single tests, lead one to the belief that it is the individual who must be watched. Given representatives of one country or race may be better or worse than those of another country or race, but the variation seems to be the variation of individuals. Professor Woodworth says, in his study already quoted: "On the whole the keenness of the senses seems to be about on a par in the various races of mankind." Perhaps we may go even further. The total range of scores made by the children at Ellis Island shows a distribution similar to that usually found in like studies.

One difficulty in past years, too little emphasized, has been the overwhelming numbers of certain races that came in a given short space of time. Assimilation is as much a question, it would seem, on this side of over great numbers of one nationality or race, as it is on the larger side, of the assimilation of great numbers of immigrants of all races. With this looked out for to an even greater degree by the new law, with the more careful sifting, and with the demand for more exact credentials, with the greater distribution of arrivals over more months in the year, there seems to be a way opening for the exacting, under the law, of that higher standard which the country has come to demand. We may hope to see developed in connection with the Medical Division at Ellis Island, an extension of the "Psychological" work already begun. As we have noted, all the complicated machinery of "Immigration" bears the signs of a gradual and intelligent growth. From the "arithmetic problems," and the simple questions now asked of the arriving immigrant, in any doubtful case, which appears upon the line, or in the intensive examination rooms, to discover if further examination on the mental side is necessary, there might be developed a short series of tests which all immigrants should be given, perhaps the children on the left, and the adults on the right, (for such division might be possible in the line) to serve as a general and further weeding process, after the Medical Division examination, as now conducted, is finished. For adults there might be quick moving tests on the picture completion order, or an adapted "E" test, based on the illiterate vision test (but with two "E's" perhaps

instead of one E and a card), or a pattern filling test after the example of the third question in the Beta, or the Knox cubes, or the "Learning Test" as described by Dr. Mullan.

Speed is a requisite here, for as it is necessary to discover the cases that are below normal, according to the law, so also it is right to detain as short a time as possible those immigrants who in all respects do satisfy the law, and who should therefore not be retarded in their entrance into the country.

Some such method as this, with tests chosen by experienced workers, would, it seems, secure in both these ways the desired results, for in the cases where the non language tests had not given convincing information, this smaller number of immigrants might be given some oral or written test through interpreters, as the Eugenics Committee suggested, without delay of the entire number. That a quick working selective process at first would be a wise one, whatever slower moving and more exhaustive one might be used after those who gave evidence of being beyond question had passed on their way, seems evident after watching the principle of development which is at work at Ellis Island. The standards set, when once the system was in working order, could be raised or lowered without causing any change in the process itself.

Many of the complete tables of the results obtained at Ellis Island have been included in this Study in order to have them at hand for direct comparison. Mr. William J. Bromwell, who wrote a "History of Immigration" in 1856, said that he presented "facts" only, and left it "to the enlightened understanding of the people to arrive at just conclusions from the premises therein presented." It is through such study and critical consideration on the part of many people that the immigration system has advanced and is advancing.

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To sum up: The smaller number of immigrants arriving, the more careful selection at the source, the lower quotas for races which have come to this country in the last few years, in numbers impossible of assimilation, the opportunity for more intensive physical and mental examination on arrival, and for greater leisure in getting the facts necessary to determine the fitness of the individual, all give promise of the establishment of improved

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PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF IMMIGRANT CHIL

conditions throughout the country. Difficulties in of this latest law will of course be found, individu will exist; but the painstaking and untiring work basis of each development will correct each flaw in t process of admitting only that individual who proves seems surely a safe foundation.

Baltimore, 1924.

1 For text of the law, see Government pamphlet, 68th Congr

H. R. 7995.

2 Hearings Before the Committee on Immigration and Nat H. R. 5, etc., 1924.

Pamphlet, 78952. For interesting discussion of various poi law see report of appearance before Committee of Commission Curran, pp. 621-648 and pp. 719–724.

See also "Fewer and Better." Henry H. Curran. Saturda Post, November 15, 1924, p. 6.

Hearings before the House Committee on Immigration, 1924, 78952, p. 838.

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