Speech #590092011

I desire to say a few words in reference to the amendment under consideration. I regard it as one of the most important features of the bill. We are not only interested in having the proper class of immigrants admitted to this country. but we are also interested in having these immigrants properly distributed so that the country may digest them. assimilate them. and Americanize them as quickly as possible. During the earlier stages of immigration. and until we got this large influx from southern Europe. the immigrants were. as a rule. disposed not to remain in the big cities of the seaboard. but t6 go into the interior and to secure homes for themselves and become independent. But if you follow and study the figures of immigration in recent years. especially since this large influx from Europe. you will find a great disposition among them to locate in the large centers on the seaboard. and the result is that in those cities population becomes congested. and especially among the working and laboring elements. These immigrants who thus huddle and gather together in large colonies in our large cities fail to become Americanized as swiftly and to become as prosperous and in as good condition as those who go to the West: I never realized the beneficent effects of the result of distributing our immigrants and sending them out into the country for the purpose of becoming farmers and agricultural laborers so much as I did a few years ago when I visited the city of New York. I went to the east side. as it is called In that city. and I saw there huddled together a class of immigrants who were in a condition like which we had nothing anywhere in the Northwest country. I have had some knowledge and experience with this subject. I have been. as it were. a pioneer in two great States of the Northwestthe State of Wisconsin. where I spent my childhood and youth. and the State of Minnesota. which is now my home. I have noticed what a great blessing and advantage it has been to.the immigrants to be distributed among rural communities and among the farmers of this country. First of all. they become good agricultural laborers. In the next place. their surroundings are such that they aim. at as early a day as practicable. to secure little farms of their own.