Speech #630399735

Mr. President. I have taken much of the Senates time in discussing various phases of the immigration bill I desire. in conclusion. to say that I am now and always have been in favor of every test beinfg applied which will keel) out of this country people who are unfitted for citizenship--nfitted because of any reason. whether it be race or the c6ndition of the immigrants health or the condition of the immigrants morals. I am unalterably opposed. and always have been unalterably opposed to the promot.ionof immigration by those selfish interests which bring to this country under contract hordes of people whose advent here under such contract means the beating down of the standard of American wages. Those contracts are not only unfair to the American laborer. but they are unfair to the immigrant himself. because they are made with the immigrant when he has no opportunity to be advised with reference to the conditions of living or the conditions of labor or thecost of living in this country. he being unadvised and being in ignorance regarding these important matters is called upon tocontract with shrewd. keen. and possibly dishonest men who are advised. There are many other arguments against contract labor. there are many arguments equally strong against the promotion of immigration by steamship and other transportation coifipanies. No one can desire more than doI that all thosemethods shall absolutely cease. no one is more willing than I to carefully guard our portals against the arrival here of those who are diseased and those who belong to indolent. nonsupporting classes. I am ready to go beyond that and to exclude every race of men who. as a race. are incapable of appreciating JANUARY -14i.