Speech #590091344

The Senator does not realize the fact that it is very much more difficult to put the machinery of a State into motion than it is to have individual enterprise avail itself of an opportunity of this kind. I have no doubt in the world. if this barrier were removed. the agricultural interests. not simply of my State. but very largely of the South. would take advantage of the opportunity. or individuals would do so. to bring over to this country the most desirable of all the population that could be found on the other side in the way of immigrants--that is. those who are now engaged in agricultural labor. The Senator alluded to the fact that machinery has been devised by which It is proposed to give opportunity for distribution of those coming into the country at present. so that they may be sent to agricultural districts. and thus distributed through the agricultural regions and employed in agricultural pursuits. But the fact stands that the large majority--in fact. almost all of those who now come to this countryare not those who are seeking agricultural employment. they are not those who were engaged in agricultural employment before they came to this country. and they are not those whom it is easy to enlist. or.