Speech #620266941

Mr. Speaker. with very few exceptions I have at all times voted against special rules. and I see no reason why I should or why we should vote for this rule. Being a member of the Committee on Immigration. I feel satisfied that within the next few days our committee will be reached. and should it not be reached oil next Wednesday it will surely be reached immediately after the holidays. and I am positive that aimple opportunity will be given our committee to consider this and all other legislation whiich pertains to immigration. Some of time Members of this House seem to believe that this restrictive legislation is demanded by tile people of our country. To these gentlemen I desire to say that they are mistaken. There is no such demand. unless it be on the part of a few misinformed residents of districts where there are now no foreignborn citizens and to which sections immigration does not go. I feel confident that had these gentlemen the same information .tpou this question that I have and were they so familiar with the existing conditions as I am they would not be here today pleading for and demanding this special rule. The people of the country instead of being opposed to immigration are il favor of it. for they know that it is immigration that has built up our country and made it the greatest of them all. Coaling as I do from the second largest city in the United States. one which has a population of nearly two and onehalf millions. learly 60 per cent of which population is of foreign birth or foreign parentage. there is no question but what were there any sentiment in favor of imposing restrictions upon immigration that I would be aware of it. Yet I have heard not a single resident of Ely city express himself as being opposed to the coming of these People into our city or this country. nor have I received a single communication from the inhabitants of Chicago advocating tile passage of legislation tending to prohibit these imligrants from availing themselvesof the opportunities offered in our country. However. oni the other hand I have received hundreds of resolutions from commercial. professional. educational. and fraternal organizations protesting in the strongest possible terms against the pending restrictive measures and branding the Dillingham and Burnett bills as unfair. unjust. and unAmerican.