Speech #630387406

Mr. President. it seems to me that this amendnieit. as proposed by the Senator from Massachusetts . does not mean Tehat is desired by those who would like to see these Belgian immigrants get out on our farms as farm laborers or even as farm purchasers. because to say that they must come prepared to purchase farms does not even necessarily imply that they will use the money for any such purpose. As I construe the anendmnent as proposed. it gives ground for am suggestion that some organization. perhaps in tile East. will furnish the funds. and without being subject to the prohibitions of the contractlabor clauses of the law. they will get these people over here and have them under contract labor. and where they may go and what they may do after they arrihe here will be a matter of conjecture. I anm not anxious to serve any such purpose as that. but I can say. so far as all my observation in the West and in the agricultural regions is concernedand I have spent all my life therethat the oni great and serious problem everywhere in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley region is to secure farm labor. I know welltodo men. prosperous farmers. who are past middle age. who are working like slaves. because it is absolutely necessary for them to do so in order to have their fields cultivated. because they can not get labor out there. Take the poor Belgian. stripped of everything in tile world but good health and strong arlis and horny hands. and if we could get him out into may State oi the farm. working for some man like the men I have mentioned. it would be a blessing both to the farmer amid to the Be!gian immigrant. I do not believe such immigrant ought to be excluded because 11e does not show that lie has sufficient cash in his pocket or on deposit in the bank which will enable him on his arrival to pdrchase a farm. I believe. considering the conditions in Belgiulm. which we want to alleviate. "and the condition of our western farms. where labor is so sorely needed. and considering the character of the immigrants. who have made a paradise in their own country in the cultivation of the soil. that we ought to give them an opportunity as farm laborers. although they may have notiling..ithoogh neighbors or associations of farmers out there mlay have to send their transportation to them so as to have them coli:e to this country and to go out and engage in farm halbor without being purchasers of farms.