Speech #620287170

Mr. President. as I said. I am very much opposed to the provision that has been inserted in the conference report. because I believe that it is an unwise provision. that it is wholly unnecessary so far qs this country Is concerned. that it is a dangerous precedent to establish. and that it is an admission of weakness by us as a great Nation to say that we are incapable of providing whom we shall admit or whom we want to exclude as immigrants to this country. It is claimed by some that we must not oppose this bill or any provision of it because it has been asked by labor organizations to have these provisions inserted. No one will go further to protect labor than I. but labor organizations. sir. have no more right to ask the American Congress to enact into law provisions that will be detrimental to the country at large than have any other class of our people. We who come from the West. who desire immigration. who are interested in seeing that progress is made. and that our new country is developed. feel that we have a right to be heard on this question. No one is more anxiois than I to exclude every alien. I care not from what country he may come. who will not make a good lawabiding citizen when he comes to this country. There is another provision which I want to touch upon briefly. and that is the increase in the head tax. I believe that tax was increased on the floor of the Senate. If I remember correctly. the bill as it was reported from the committee provided for a $4 head tax.