Randolph Churchill and Pauper Immigrants

POOR JEWS' TEMPORARY SHELTER.

Mr. H. Landau, in proposing that Mr. E.A. Franklin be re-elected as president, said that the Shelter had not made the rapid advance it ought to have done, that after deducting what was distributed for the Sabbath Meal Society, rent of house and other expenses, only about 167 pounds had really been consumed by the immigrants, and to that they had contributed themselves, as they would find from the poor box. The institution did a deal of good to the English community, as in former times the immigrants had been robbed, and becoming paupers, had been a burden on the community. They also sent some to America, and some back to their own country. In fact, as they would see in the report, of 1,322 inmates during the past year, only 359 remained in the United Kingdom. Lord Randolph Churchill had referred in one of his speeches to "pauper immigration," from which it might be thought that the East End was overwhelmed with foreign paupers. Anyone having any acquaintance with the East End would know the contrary. They had had as an inmate a man who had lived 22 years in Germany, had married a German lady, but he was told he must leave the country. He could not go back to Russia after having so long deserted it. What was that man to do? As a special favour, his wife (who had written to the late German Emperor) was allowed to remain in Germany till her husband had provided a home for her in another country. Did they want English people to act in the same manner? Was that consistent with English ideas? Referring to the labour question, he said that many millions of ladies' jackets were imported into this country because female labour was too expensive here. If they would stop the sweating system many more would be imported, and not only would the work be taken from England but the supply of the raw material also. In making some reference to the manner in which immigrants were robbed, he said they ought to have a man to meet the ships at Gravesend in order to warn them against the land sharks.

Source: The Jewish Standard, November 30, 1888, Page 2