Speech #600006396

I would call the attention of the gentleman from Iowa to the fact that within three years 100.000 Italians have crossed the Alps into Germany. that they are being invited there today. and that Gernmany today is the one industrial nation that we. must fear and against whom we must compete. and that when the German Emperor with his wisdom and sagacity sees fit to Invite these men whom the gentleman would keep out. there must e some real good substantial reason for such action. Moreover. Germany is more densely populated than is the United States. and if Germany can handle these immigrants to the satisfaction of her own citizens and cries out for more. then certainly our great undeveloped nation with her unknown wealth of resources can use them to advantage. Let me further call the gentlemans attention to the fact that he comes from a comparatively new State. that I come from an old State. that I come from a State that. next to Rhode Island. is the most thickly congested in the Union. Today Massachusetts has over 56 per cent of foreign born. including the children of immigrants. who came here within one generation. not going back to the grandfather. but simply the father. If Massachusetts without any natural resources. without any fields. or mines. or forests. and deprived of those things which you have so abundantly in the great West. can invite that character of population and can successfully assimilate it and show to the world such splendid results in industry. progress. sobriety. education. and culture. then it must be conceded that a powerful and strong argument is given to this House for greater immigration of the races that still knock at our door. Again let me call the attention of the gentleman to this filet. that only in those parts of Massachusetts where immigration has been largestin Suffolk. Middlesex. Worcester. Essex. and Bristolhas there been any advance. and only in such counties where there has not been immigration. such as Dukes and Nantucket. Hampshire and Franklin. has there been little or no progress. Massachusetts stands among the New England States as a peer. and although she has no natural resources. such as Maine or New Hampshire. and is smaller in area than Maine. yet she is in the lead among the New England States. for the single reason that she has invited immigration. This has made her .a progressive State. while those other States where immigration has not been known are simply going forward in a small way. if not going backward. It was the brain. brawn. industry. patriotism. and perseverance of these sons and daughters of Europe that gave Massachusetts her position and permits her to retain it. Let me say to gentlemen of this House. that when their States shall be filled up we shall be happy to have the Italian and other races come to us. Your State of Iowa was built up by immigrants from Massachusetts. The State of Kansas and the State of Missouri and the great States of the South may well follow. and if Iowa can show the great success that she has done. it is because inmmigration has reached her confines. Then slh call go onward and upward and make its success just as pronounced in the future. if this immigration continues. She is far from reaching her limit of resources. Let me remind the gentleman from Missouri that Boston is a big city. Boston wants immigrants and has encouraged immigration. and Ae do not care whether it comes from the fields or from the mines or from the cities of Europe. All we ask is lawabiding 1en and a chance to put them to work. And if a great State like Massachusetts can succeed in spite of the fact that it has no natural advantages like the States over the Mississippi and south of Mason and Dixons line. certainly other States ought to be able by the same means to attain the Game degree of success- [Loud applause.]