Speech #650382450

That during said entire period of 22 months they have in person. and through their entire membership of more than 1.000 persons. as well as by volunteer investigators and paid detectives. been engaged in aiding all departments of the United States Government. and particularly the Department of Justice and the Army. In the work of guarding and protecting property. discovering. preventing. and punishing disloyalty. aiding Army enlistments. enforcement of the selectiveservice laws. arresting deserters and slackers. and generally doing such war service as could be found to do. That in carrying on such work a vast number of investigations were made. and a great mass of information gathered. from which we have become profoundly impressed with the necessity for prompt revision of the Federal laws relating to both immigration and naturalization. We must be better protected against the immigration and naturalization of all persons not likely to become attached to the principles embodied in our Constitution and laws. or become industrious. lawabiding. and patriotic citizens. We have had a rude awakening. While we have found many of our foreignborn citizens splendidly loyal. we have also found an astonishing number to be only half Amencan In real sentiment. and very many positively disloyal and hostile to the United States in its hour of need. We know that fear has bridled many a tongue and stayed many a hand. We find that among the disloyal. and preachers of disobedience to law. destruction of property. and general seditious conduct. fully 90 per cent are foreign born or of foreign parentage. and this in a population 77 per cent of which Is native born. We find that the dangerous unrest now prevalent. and which promises to become more acute. Is almost entirely the result of propaganda carried on by a naturally seditious element of foreign birth. many of whom have come here expressly to find a freer and more fertile field for their propaganda. It Is our unanimous and deliberate judgment that. unless a speedy cure is provided by the enactment of properly protective immigration and naturalization laws. irreparable harm will result to the people of the United States. Such legislation must contain whatever provisions as are necessary to really accomplish the desired purpose. and while some inconvenience may be occasioned to a few excellent people. this fact niust not be allowed to stand in the way of accomplishing the necessary reform. We have the honor to submit the following suggestions as an outline of some provisions which ought. In our judgment. to be embodied in proposed legislation: First. Pending passage of other laws and organizing the administration thereof. stop all immigration. with only necessary exceptions. Second. All persons coming into the United States should be required to fill out. In the country from which they come. a questionnaire. giving a true history of their lives. showing their education. times and places and kinds of employment. if convicted of any crime. the time. place. and circumstances. whether felony or misdemeanor. social. and other organizations of which applicant is or has been a member. and all other pertinent facts upon which a fair judgment of character may be founded. Such document should be made before a United States consular or Immigration officer. resident in the foreign country. and filed with him at least 90 days prior to date of expected embarkation for the United States. Such officer should then make investigation as to fitness of applicant to become a resident and citizen of our country. and. if found worthy. issue to him a certificate to that effect. and make a similar indorsement on the questionnaire. If found not worthy. certificate should be refused. and that fact indorsed on questionnaire. All questionnaires to be filed in and become a permanent record In the proper office in the United States. If approval has been given. applicant may enter United States as an immigrant. subject to the final approval of United States at place of entry into the United States. After entry into the United States the immigrant should be required to learn to intelligently speak. read. and write the English language within two years. after learning which. and after two years. he may declare his intention to become a citizen. which he may complete after an additional period of five years. In order that proper track may be kept of his conduct. a system of registration should be required. with proper officers in the various places of his residence. at all times up to time of admission to citizenship. Failure on part of foreigners to comply with any or all laws. rules. and regulations relating to foreigners resident in the United States. either temporarily or permanently. or engaging in riots. or any breach of State or Federal law. and advocating. or associating with others who advocate. any kind of unlawful violence. sedition. breach of law. overthrow of lawful authority or government. should subject the foreigner to punishment or deportation or both at the discretion of the United States. On making application for admission to citizenship he should again make out and file with his application a questionnaire. giving a complete history of his life in detail. and at least three months prior to time fixed for hearing the application. to allow of thorough Investigation into the life of applicant by Federal agents. Any willfully untrue statement made or pertinent fact covered up should bar admission and be followed by deportation if fraudulent intent is found to exist. The law should provide that after admission to citizenship retention of that right is a trust subject to forfeiture at any time for sufficient cause. such as conviction of felony. unpardoned advocacy of violence or disorder. engaging in or advising riots. advising. aiding. or abetting seditious or disorderly conduct by others. or any conduct which the proper Federal authority may find calculated to undermine orderly and efficient government. All such laws should be made to apply to foreigners and naturalized citizens now here. as well as those yet to come. for no man has any right to hold a citizenship the privileges of which he abuses. nor has he a right to retain citizenship in any country and at the same time advocate Its destruction. Vigorous sedition laws should be at once enacted If the war measures now In force are either inadequate or inapplicable in times of peace. and these laws would. of course. apply to foreigners and citizens alike. In so far as punishments go.