Speech #620314650

Tenn. My DEA Ma. CALLAHAN : I have yours of the 15th. and In reply will state that I regret I can not comply with your wishes in reference to sustaining the Presidents veto on the immigration bill. I would be very willing to vote for a modlfled bill which would even permit an illiterate to come into tills country provided he could furnishl satisfactory evidence from the land of is birth that he was honest. industrious. "lawabiding. and intended to become an American citizeln. but this is imipossible under the present status of this matter. The bill before the President was indorsed. with one exception. by every member of tile commission appointed by President Roosevelt. Tills commission was composed of nine persons. w ho devoted four years of travel and study to tile subject fund expended a million dollars. Their report covers over 40 volumles. Legislation along the lines of the restriction of undesirable foreign immigration was approved in she platform upon whichl President Taft was nominated. I have absolutely no prejudice against any foreigner. hut I am firmly of tme op~inion that we are getting too many undesirabie pleople. Our eastern cities are overcrowded. amnd thle governor of New Y.ork and other officials are appealing for legislation which wvill take an enormous burdens off lime taxpayers growing out of the care of the alien insane anld crimliuna classes. The conditions under whlich we are receiving foreign immigration is entirely different from whlat It was many years ago. Thlen less than :per cent of those who came to America were illiterate. Now I believe the estimate is over l0 per cent. The steamship companies. in order to make maoney o the immigrants. are encouraging and bringing all classes of people to America. whether desirable or undesirable. and the sentiment in this country is growing rapidly In favor of immediate action on thie part of Congress on this subject. This embraces not only public officials. bnt the farmers union. labor organizations. and others. I repeat tiat I at sorry my views do not meet yours on this subject With eindest and best wishes to you and yours.