Speech #590163127

It might be tht the exercise of such discretion might involve us in trouble with that nation. I am confident that we have no treaty with Japan which would allow the President the power to exclude Japanese subjects front entering our ports if they should come directly frot Japan to the United States. Now. it seems to mte. to nmke this lrovision consistett and conpleteI should not say complete. because. ii miy opinion. nothing could be added to it that wouldi make it completethat it should go further and say that the President of the United States. when lie believes that laborers or coolies comintg directly fromn Japan into the United States. to the detriment of the labor interests. should have tle power torefuse them entrance. Why was not such a provision as this included? Is it because the temporary residence of these people in Hawaii or the Philippinie Islands or the Cantl Zone night so demoralize themi as to render themi unfit to dwell amtongst us? In tily jutdgtment. if these people wvho come around Robin Hoods barn to get into lhe United States should be excluded. the President shoul likewise be clothed with power to exclude those who come directly front Japan to this country. But it seems tlte frieds of tle Administration are afraid to take such a bold stand and have concluded to work by a plait of circumuvention and indirection. 1his whole proposition. in lty mind. is ill advised. crude. and vague. and will accotldish nothing. amd it is unworthy of being fraited into ai impdrtantt immigration bill like ttis. It is otto of those exclusion proltositions which does not exclude. and never will exclude. undesirable people. and if our friends in California believe that it will meet their requirements and solve the difficulties concerning which they were recently up ill arms. in my opinion. their hopes will hang by a slender thread. Mr. President. I shall contentimyself with simply itaking this further statement. that. il my opinion. it is due to the peopl.. of the Pacitic coast and of the great States of the entire West that tite influx of hordes of coolies. whether they come front China or Japai or any other country. should be absolutely prohibited by a wellconsidered ilet of Congress. and that we slfould not attempt to deal with the question by such a propositioi as this. which to one cali completely comprehend and which will be barren of importamit results.