Speech #650153438

I think. that the subjects of other countries fighting with us against a common enemy should be counted in the quota of men to .be furnished under the draft law. and yet should be exempted from military service and be permitted to remain at work here when our own boys were compelled to go to war to fight for their Governments as well as ours. But I rose particularly to ask the chairman of the committee a question in regard to .section 3 of the bill. That section provides that after 30 days from the passage of the act no alien who is a native or the oubject of any country that Is engaged in war with Germany or the central powers shall be permitted to enter the United States "except by permission of the President of the United States." In view of the fact that the House and the country well know the views of the President of the United States on admitting foreigners to this country. he having been persistently opposed to the Burnett immigration bill .and having vetoed it after both Houses of Congress had passed it. does not the chairman think that that exception in section 3 will.absolutely destroy the effect of this section of the bill. because the President. unless he changes his views entirely on the immigration question. will permit all foreigners. regardless of their illiteracy or other undesirable qualifications to come into the country. The Presidents views on that question are well known. And unless that exception is stricken out he will probably nullify the section by a general Executive order permitting them all to come in.