Speech #610200478

In order to show how the farmers of the South and West. and. in fact. from everywhere. as well as the workingmen from all over the country. look upon this question. I will here insert in the RECORD some resolutions passed by farmers and laborers organizations throughout America: Resolved. That the Farmers National Congress urges upon the Senators and Representatives of the United States the importance of further judicious regulations of immigration. and in particular demands the enactment of a law raising the present head tax upon immigrants to at least $10. and excluding absolutely immigrants of poor physique and those who are unable to read in some language. Adopted September 14. 1905. at Richmond. Va.. and -still the attitude of the Farmers National Congress. Resolved. That the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America. in national rally assembled at Memphis. Tenn.. this 8th day of January. 190S. and representing 2.000.000 farmers. urge upon Congress the immediate abolition of the federal bureau of distribution and the speedy enactment of laws substantially excluding the present enormous alien influx by means of an increased head tax. a money requirement. the illiteracy test. and other measures. and that we call upon our public. and especially our state officials to prevent the agricultural section from becoming a dumping ground for foreign Immigration. Resolved. That the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America. in its fourth annual convention at Fort Worth Tex this 3d day of September. 1908. and representing over 2.000.000 farmers. hereby adopts the immigration resolutions passed last January at the annual rally In lMemphis. calling for federal and state legislation abolishing immigration bureaus and substantially excluding the present alien influx from southeast Europe and western Asia. and urge upon our federal officials the vigorous enforcement of all immigration laws in order to properly protect the countrys welfare and to preserve its institutions. safeguard its citizenship. and preserve its AngloSaxon civilization for posterity. and be it further Resolved. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to each Member of Congress by the chairman of the national legislative committee with the request that they be printed in the CONGr.SSlOITAL RECORD and to the Immigration Commission with the request that they be incorporated in Its report. Whereas the United States Immigration Commission will report to the next session of Congress. recommending legislation. and Whereas we are unalterably opposed to the present foreign influx from southeast Europe and western Asia. its proposed distribution and diversion to the South and West. and have in local. state. and national convention resolved in favor of the enactment and vigorous enforcement of rigidly restrictive Immigration laws: Therefore be it Resolved. That the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America. In fifth annual convention assembled at Birmingham. Ala.. this 9th day of September. 1909. representing over 2.000.000 farmers. reiterate and reaffirm the immigration resolutions adopted unanimously at Memphis. January 8. and at Fort Worth. September 3. 1908. calling upon our state and particularly our federal officials to exclude the present foreign influx by means of an Increased head tax. a money test. the illiteracy test. and other effective measures. To these I could add many resolutions to the same effect. passed by every state organization of farmers where such organizations exist. and yet Congress has persistently turned a deaf ear to all such appeals. To these I will add the resolutions passed by a few patriotic and labor organizations. and here insert them in the RECORD: Resolved by the National Council. Order United American Mechanics. in its sixtythird annual session. this 24th day of August. 1909. at Provideuce. R. 1.. That we urge upon Congress the enactment of additional legislation strengthening existing laws and further restricting foreign Immigration by means of an increased head tax. a money test. the exclusion of alien adults unable to read in a European language or dialect. the fining of the foreign steamship companies for bringing here deportable immigrants. and such other measures as will exclude the present Influx of foreign undesirables. protect the countrys .welfare. preserve its institutions. and maintain its present high ideals. Resolved by the Patriotic Order Sons of America in national camp at New York City this 30th day of September. 1909. That we commend our national presidents patriotic sentiments. the work of our national legislative committee. the loyal support of members particularly to that committee. and urge upon Congress and reaffirm our belief in the enactment of a properly applied illiteracy test. an Increased head tax. a money test. and such other measures as will restrict and sift out undesirable and the less assimilative aliens. Whereas the Illiteracy test Is the most practical means for restricting the present stimulated influx of cheap labor. whose competition is so ruinous to the workers already here. whether native or foreign. and Whereas an increased head tax upon steamships is needed to provide better facilities. to more efficiently enforce our immigration laws. and to restrict immigration. and Whereas the requirement of some visible means of support would enable immigrants to find profitable employment. and Whereas the effect of the federal bureau of distribution is to stimulate foreign immigration: Therefore be it Resolved by the American F"ederation of Labor in twventyninth annual convention assembled. That we demand the enactment of the illiteracy test. tbe money test. an increased head tax. and the abolition of the distribution bureau. and be It further Resolved. That we favor heavily fining the foreign steamships for bringing debarable aliens where reasons for debarment could have been ascertained at time of sale of ticket. Before leaving these extracts I will insert one from the Mississippi Union Advocate. the official organ of the farmers unions of that State.