Galveston: Ellis Island of the West

CHAPTER 7. 1912: Difficulties in Recruitment

CHAPTER 7 1912: Difficulties zn Recruitment A shocking incident at the end of 1911 resulted in a readjustment of managerial responsibilities at the beginning of 1912. The incident had occurred October 15, 1911, when a freshly-arrived seventeenyear -old female immigrant, who was staying at the JIIB's immigrant quarters, was raped, after being induced to leave the premises. The assailant, who had free access to the quarters, was himself a formerly-arrived immigrant, now boarding at the private residence of JIIB assistant manager Louis Greenberg, where the assault took place. Although the crime was immediately made known to the JIBB's management, the latter made no attempt to report it, and it was only two days later that the perpetrator was turned over to the immigration authorities, at the victim's private initiative. Appalled at "the inexcusable carelessness shown on the part of the management," Inspector-in-Charge Hampton directed that "no Hebrew aliens detained by the Immigration Officers shall be placed in the JIIB for safe-keeping."l As a result, Rabbi Cohen, who in any case was deeply in debt, partly as a result of expenses related to the care of immigrants, quit the JIIB.2 After a protest from Hampton, who greatly admired the rabbi,3 and after appeals by Bressler4 and Schiff," Cohen withdrew his resignation.6 Since JIIB manager Berman had an unfortunate way of alienating people with his tactless manner, it was decided that only a visit by Bressler would help resolve difficulties by placating Hampton and by giving Cohen support in his effort to improve supervision at the immigrant quarters. 131 GALVESTON: ELLIS ISLAND OF THE WEST In the latter part of December 191 I, Bressler spent about a week in Galveston smoothing over the problems. At the following meeting of the Galveston Committee in New York, held in January, it was decided upon Bressler's recommendation to send Cohen six hundred dollars per annum to be used by Cohen at his discretion for such purposes as were "kindred to, but not actually within the scope of our Bureau's work.'" The following month, Schiff authorized an additional check for $1,150 to Cohen, which was one-half of the latter's indebtedness, "on the ground that the debt was incurred by Doctor Cohen, as a member of the Galveston Committee, and because of his prominent connection therewith."8 Cohen remained actively associated with the Galveston Movement until the end. As for Greenberg, though he was in no way blamed, and his work was appreciated, he was expediently asked to resign. Bressler returned to New York in mid-January 1912, from his month-long journey to Galveston and the West. The immediate purpose of his trip had been to resolve the very difficult situation which had emerged in Galveston. Once that had been accomplished, he had made a tour of various cities to which JIIB immigrants were sent (and some which received immigrants from the Industrial Removal Office). Schiff wrote Zangwill of Bressler's report that there were "unsatisfactory business conditions now prevailing throughout." Nevertheless, Bressler was convinced "that there will be no difficulty in placing 150 to 200 people monthly, provided they are of the right kind."9 At a meeting of the Galveston Committee held in New York on February I, Berman presented a slightly less optimistic report which, again, Schiff communicated to Zangwill: "Notwithstanding the depression," wrote Schiff-although "depression" was really too strong a word-"there will be no difficulty to place from 125 to 200 proper immigrants a month."10 It is interesting to note that while Schiff, quoting Berman, brought Bressler's minimum figure down from 150 to 125, he did not bring the maximum limit down from 200 to 175. This was a tactic which favored the JIIB and kept the ITO on the defensive. It was quite clear that the ITO was having difficulty meeting even the minimum demands of the JIIB. By declaring that it was willing to accept as many as two hundred immigrants, the JIIB was always able to point out that the ITO's achievements were falling far below expectations. In his arguments with Zangwill over the number of immigrants, Bressler invariably made reference to the maximum figure, rather than the minimum figure. I I 132 1912: DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITMENT In addition to the quantitative goals that Bressler set, he also demanded that the ITO carefully select and...