Speech #630132143

Mr. Chairman. the gentleman from Alabama states that organized labor and the patriotic orders of America and other organizations demand this legislation. I maintain that the demand for this legislation comes from sections of our country to which immigration does not go. I am convinced that whatever demand there may be appears only in certain sections of the country where it has been artificially created. and where the citizens are not familiar with the great benefits derived from immigration. The prejudice against immigration which exists in the minds of many of our citizens is the direct result of the campaign carried on by a wellorganized lobby maintained in the Capital at a great expense by the Restrictive Immigration League. aided and abetted by the Junior Order of American Mechanics and the Patriotic Order of Americans. The views of these organizations on the question of immigration are the same as those of the old American Protective Association. whose members were known also as the Knownothings. True. the Farmers Alliance and the American Federation of Labor have gone on record as favoring the passage of this measure. but neither organization submitted the matter to a referendum vote in order that the true sentiment of the rank and file of these bodies might be ascertained. Had they done so I am confident that the recommendations of the officials would have been reversed. It has been stated repeatedly that all of these immigrants go to New York and to the other large centers. Have we heard any demands from these centers to which the immigration does go? Have we heard that demand from the city of New York. or from the city of Chicago. or the city of Cleveland. or the city of Buffalo. or the city of Boston. or the city of San Francisco. or any of those other centers? No. Mr. Chairman. the demands are made from men coming from sections of our country that have not been blessed with immigration. Every section of our country that has received immigration is perfectly satisfied and willing to receive more of it. Oh. yes. we are told that the labor organizations are on record. and that they demand this restricted immigration because labor has suffered in consequence of that immigration. For the benefit of the gentleman from Alabama and other gentlemen who are advocating this measure I desire to call his attention and the attention of the House to the following facts : During the last 10 years it has been admitted that immigration has been larger than ever before in the history of our Nation. and yet. notwithstanding that fact. Mr. Chairman. the conditions of labor have improved and the wages of labor have increased.