42 
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM 
such data as exist, and it was able to institute a 
number of inquiries which, tho limited in extent, 
nevertheless have served to throw some light upon 
the relation of immigration to these various social 
problems. Altho it seems probable that the injuri 
ous social effects of immigration have been greatly 
exaggerated in the minds of many persons, neverthe 
less it would be practically impossible to exaggerate 
the social importance that might attach to immigra 
tion under certain conditions. History and observa 
tion afford numberless examples. 
It is a generally accepted fact that, up to the time 
of the visitation of the Pacific Islands by diseased 
sailors from Europe in the early part of the last cen 
tury, venereal diseases, as known in Europe and Amer 
ica, did not exist in those islands, and that their intro 
duction by only a few sailors was largely responsible 
for the ravages of these terrible diseases, unchecked by 
any medical knowledge, that swept away in many in 
stances a large proportion of the entire population. 
The entrance of an evil-minded man into a village 
community, or one or two foul-minded boys into a 
school, is often enough to affect materially the entire 
tone of the school or community. It is important, 
therefore, that as careful consideration as possible be 
given to these questions that have been so emphasized, 
and that rigid measures be taken to check whatever 
evils may have arisen. 
Legislation* 
In earlier days neither the Federal Government nor 
State governments had passed any laws to protect the 
* Cf. for details, reports of Immigration Commission, Vol. 39; also 
Chapter XVI.