Speech #640066066

And before I either read or talk further. before I forget itand I will refer to the gentleman later. before I sit down. if 1 do not forget itlet me say a word to the gentleman from Massachusetts with reference to his position touching this bill. It Is wonderful how some people. who. upon all other subjects. from my standpoint. are. as they ought to be. wise In the main. can stumble touching some vital questions. especially touching Immigration. The gentleman from Massachusetts has been opposed to immigration as far back. I know. as 1907. when the law substantially now on the statute books was enacted. and when the literacy test reported from the committee was In the bill. but not as finally enacted in the bill. and since that time he has been consistent. Oh. he is a good protectionist. He tears passion into tatters when it comes to protection. and yet he starts out with the story of a man who was getting $10 a week or $12 a week who would like to have $16 a week. "How can you *expect to get $16 a week when people can come over here and compete with you and work for $10 a week?" And yet he is not consistent when 300.000.000 people now in contest upon the other sidesubstantially all of them will be there. and their children. for a long. long timemanufacture and ship their products to the United States and come in competition With that man he talked to who was getting $12 a week. they working at half the wage he is receiving. And. 0. my southern friends. you are agonizing about this competition from immigrants who you seek to keep but. and yet you stand for free trade and let in the products of those 300.000.000 people abroad. and then you turn around. not consistent. and make the same argument that the gentleman from Massachusetts makes. So much for that. I have lived almost 80 years. [Prolonged applause.] I date back fairly well in my recollection to 1846.