Speech #640066126

Mr. Chairman. in the few moments at my command I can )resent but two or three statements in behalf of the need for a restriction of immigration and in behalf of this particular measure. the Burnett bill. All who have given the matter any thought agree that if restriction of lmmigration is not now actually necessary there will some day come when such a step must be taken. Nearly all of those who appeared at the hearings of the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization in opposition to this bill admitted that the time must come when the United States shall cease to be an asylum for the oppressed peoples of all the world. Others admit that. the time has now come for restriction. but contend that the literacy test is not the best method to adopt in order to curtail the hordes that were pouring in for a number of years prior to the outbreak of the European war. and who wiil again. in my opinion. come pouring in at the conclusion of that fearful struggle. The opposition to the literacy test seems based on sentiment chieflyexcept. of course. the opposition of those who. for various reasons. oppose all restriction of immnigration. and find the literacy test a convenient peg upon which to hang their opposition. But. as those who at first blush reject the literacy test as unfair. study the qilestion. they find it not unfair. If we are to restrict at all. we must have some method. The percentage restriction will not do for it will admit liberal numbers 6f all the oriental races. races with which we can not assimilate. and which most of us agree should not be permitted to secure a further foothold- in the States of this Union. An excessive head tax is not desirable. as it is subject to more objection than this siniple. socalled literacy test. which requires aliens coming in to be able to read 30 to 40 words in his native language or jargon40 simple words in any tongue the new arrival may select. The bill.exempts grandfathers and fathers beyond a certain age. It exempts the young.