Speech #630424029

Does this bill rest upon the conscience and universal assent and desire of the American people? Mr. Speaker. in my humble judgment no legislative matter has ever received so much attention and discussion at the hands of the American people as the questioi of restricting Immigration. It has been a prominent issue before the people for 15 years. It has been discussed for years .by 30.000 labor organizations scattered throughout the country. representing a membership of 2.500.000. and all of these organizations have passed resolutions*favoring the passage of this bill. It hasbeen discussed for years by thousands of farmers organizations. representing a membership running into the millions. and all hafve passed resolutions favoring this legislation. The President asks if. any political party ever niade a declaration upon this subject. As far back as 1896 the Democratic national committee made a platform declaration as follows: We hold that the most efficient way of protecting American labor is to prevent the importation of foreign pauper labor to compete with it in the home market. The Republican national committee platform of the same year contained a plank as follows: For the protection of the quality of our American citizenship and of the wages of our workingmen against the fatal competition of lowpriced labor we demand that the immigration laws be -thoroughly enforced and so extended as to exclude from entrance to the Uftited States those who can neither read nor write.. And we all remember that President McKinley was -elected on that platform. Let us go still further.* and see whether this is a new question. In 189697 the House and Senate passed a bill containing the literacy test. which bill was vetoed by President Cleveland. The House passed the bill over the Presidents veto. but in the Senate it failed by a few votes. In 1898 the Senate passed an immigration bill containing the literacy test. but the bill got no considerationin the House because of the SpanishAmerican War. In 1902 the House passed an immigration bill containing the literacy test.. In 1906 the Senate again passed a bill containing the literacy test. The House substituted a bill creating the Federal..Immigration Commission. In 1913 the Senate and House both passed an immigration bill containing the literacy test recommended by the commission. which bill was vetoed by. President Taft. The Senate passed the bill over the Presidents veto. but it failed in the House by a few votes. . In 191415 the House and Senate.passed. by more than a twothirds vote. the bill before usi which contains a literacy test.. Mr. Speaker. in view of the consideration given this question by both branches of Congress during the past 18 years.