Speech #590098761

I think the statement I made reiterates in substance the statement which the gentleman made. I regard the two questions as far apart as the questions of opportunity and achievement. I want to say to my colleague from New York that on the. immigration question I thoroughly agree with him and have gone so far on that question as to disagree with a majority of the committee which has reported the Gardner immigration bill. I believe in allowing ablebodied. cleanminded aliens to come here whether they can read or write in any language or not. so long as they are willing to undertake their share of the burdens of this country. but naturalization is another question. There was a man out in one of the Western States who recently sent a letter to the President inclosing a twodollar bill. and he wrote in the letter something like this: Mr. President. I have recently been naturalized out hereI think it was in the State of Iowaand I have come to the conclusion that it is not worth the price. and to get unnaturalized I send you another $2. I do not think there is another man in the United States other than that gentleman and my colleague from New York who does not think there is value attached to American citizenship. I was born an American citizen. and I value in the highest degree every attribute of American citizenship.