Speech #620269503

Says: The suggestion that American labor is not wanted is likely to arouse a sentiment of hostility against the foreign workers whose labor is preferred by the companies responsible for advertisemenlts of this character. Nothing but evil can come from discord and racial antagonism. At the same time that the American workman recognizes the necessity of reasonable restriction upon the admission of future immigrants. lie realizes that his own welfare depends upon being able to work and to live in harmony and fellowship with those who have been admitted and are now a part of our industrial and social life. There is perhaps no group in America so free from racial or religious prejudice as the workingmen. It is a matter of indifference to them whether an immigrant comes from Great Britain. Italy. or Russia. whether he be black. white. or yellow. whether he be Christian. Itohammedan. or Jew. The chief consideration is that. wherever be comes from. he shall be endowed with the capacity and imbued with the determination to improve liis own status in life. and equally determined Ito preserve and promote the standard of life of the people among whom he expects to live. The wage earners. as a whole. have no sympathy with shot narrow spirit which would make a slogan of the cry. "America for the Americans " on the contrary. we recognize the immigrant as our fellow worker. we believe that he has within him the elements of good citizenship. and that. given half a chance. le will make a good American . but a million aliens can not be absorbed and converted into Americans each year. neither can profitable employment be found for a million newcomers each year. in addition to the natural increase in our own population. The great labor leaders of this country. who have fought the battles of labor against the concentrated power of predatory wealth for many. many years. see the need of a law restricting immigration in this country. not alone for the protection of the American workingmian but for the protection of the immigrants themselves. When we are prepared to protect these ignorant immigrants against the avarice and greed of the commercial pirates and industrial highbinders that seem to be in control of our industries today. and prevent them from being exploited to lower the standard of living and character of the American workingmen. we may eliminate the restriction. until then let us at least have the mild modification for which this bill provides.