Speech #620267063

They are frequently found desttute in our streets . they seek employment at our doors . they are found In our almshouses and in our hospitals. they are found at the bar of criminal tribunals. in our BrIdewell. our penitentiary. and our State prison. And we lament to say that they are too often led by want. by vice. and by habit to form a phalanx of plunder and depredations. rendering our city more liable to increase of crime. and our houses of correction more crowded with convicts and felons. And let me quote an extract from a paper quoted in theso reports. entitled " Imminent Dangers to the Institutions of the United States Through Foreign Immigration." ad so forth. by "An Amuerican." S. F. B. Morse. 1835. In speaking of the immigration of previous years as compared with that of the day: Then we were few. feeble. and scattered. Now we are numerous. strong. and concentrated. Then our accessions of immigration were real accessions of strength from the ranks of the learned and the good. from enlightened mechanic and artisan and intelligent husbandman. Now immigration is the accession of weakness. from the ignorant and vicious. or the priestridden slaves of Ireland and Germany. or the outcast tenants of the poorhouses and prisons of Europe. I would be more than pleased if all of you gentlemen could find time to read these reports. in order that you might compare the prophecies which they contain with the actual results of this immigration and see how uncalled for and unwarranted were their fears. Though it has been proven again and again that the fears of these men were not based upon any actual facts which would warrant their making these statements. and while practically the same conditions exist today. yet certain people. who should be informed on the subject but who apparently are not. repeatedly make the unfounded charges that immigration is detrimental to the welfare of our country. To those misguided individuals and the others who genuinely believe this to be a fact I wish to say that their fears are groundless. A few moments ago the chairman of my committee. Mr. BuRNETT. stated that the large influx of immigration is detrimental to our laboring people. that it keeps the wages down. I will say to him. as I have before. that all who have studied the history of our country and are not blinded by prejudice admit that notwithstanding the large numbers of immigrants who have come to our shores within the past 10 years the wage of all skilled. as well as unskilled. labor is higher in America today than ever before. lie quotes the report of the late Immigration Commission. Mr. Chairman. that commission made its report on conditions as they existed during the years of 1907 and 1908. and their report does not represent the facts as they exist at the present time. I admit that in 1907 and in 1908 and 1909. during the panic. that there were people without employment. but today you will not see many men idle in any of the large centers which receive the largest proportion of the immigrants entering this country. At present in practically all of the larger cities and in the industrial centers there is a great demand for labor. in fact. today in the city which I have the honor in part to represent we are paying from $2 to $2.75yes. as high as $3a day for unskilled labor. and I am informed that there are hundreds of manufacturers and employers of labor that are seeking daily for additional laborers. both skilled and unskilled. and yet are not able to procure them. Mr.