Speech #590004521

I find from the statistical reports that in the penal. reformatory. and charitable institutions of the United States there are 349.000 inmates. Of those inmates 97.000. or 28 per cent. are of foreign birth. Compare the number of foreignborn people in this country with the number of Americanborn people in it. and then realize that nearly onethird of the inmates of our penal and charitable institutions are of foreign birth. which conclusively demonstrates that the class of immigrants coming into this county are not up to the American standards or American ideals of life or living. and even more. that when they come here we must be charged with their support and maintenance in the greater number of cases. That being the case. what is the result when they come in competition with the American workmen? That is the real question. My friend from New York has said that we need these immigrants. that we need them \all. I know and am willing to admit that there is a greater demand probably for labor in the countiT than there ever has been. but there is a greater prosperity in America today than there ever has been. There is more surplus capital in America today than there ever has been. and necessarily there is a great demand for labor.