Speech #660144101

They have forfeited every consideration from a humanitarian standpoint. They are not entitled to admission and there is no reason in the world why we should want them in our midst. We are not unmindful of the fact that we are descended from Immigrants. nor do we forget the fact that we have been in many respects greatly enriched by immigrants of the better class and that we now have in our midst many foreignborn citizens of excellent character and high ideals. fully appreciative of our institutions. and making useful. patriotic citizens. but this legislation and my remarks are not directed at and will not affect them or their kind. However. conditions have very materially changed. The immigration problem has become acute. requiring immediate and effective action because of three facts. to wit: First. The large Increase in immigration to this country. Second. The rapid and radical change in the source and character of immigrants. and Third. The fact that a very large percentage of the immigrants congregate and remain In the large cities. During the first half century of our national existence practically all of our immigration came from Great Britain. During the second half century a very large bulk of the immigration to this country came from Great Britain and Germany. those from Great Britain considerably predominating. In other words. for the first half century our immigrants were almost altogether AngloSaxon and during the next half century the overwhelming majority of them were AngloSaxon and Teutonic. However. since then there has been a rapid shifting of the principal sources of our immigration from northern and :western Europe. chiefly Protestant. which furnished 71 per cent of the immigrants in 1882 and only 21 per cent in 1902. to southern and eastern Europe. chiefly Catholic and illiterate. which furnished 11 per cent of the total in 1882 and 75 per cent In 1902. The number of immigrants entering this country in 1914 were 1.21.8.480. 85 per cent of whom were from southern and eastern Europe. Our Government began keeping a record of the aliens entering this country in 1820. since which year 33.200.103 aliens are recorded as having entered this country. Of this number. 8.205.675 came from Great Britain. 5.494.539 from Germany. 4.100.740 from Italy. 3.311.400 from Russia. 2.134.414 from the Scandinavian countries. leaving a balance of 5.884.887 who came from other countries. The overwhelming majority of thos6 who came from Italy. Russia. AustriaHungary. and other countries in the southern and eastern part of Europe came since the year The annual influx of immigrants to this country has risen from an average of 14.000 per annum from 18201830 to a yearly average of 281 000 during the period of 18701880 and to an annual average of nearly 880.000 for 19011910. but the average accession was even greater during the first four years of the present decade. for in 19111914 it reached 1.033.283 annually. The Federal census of 1910 disclosed the .fact that there were 13.515.086 aliens residing in this country. of which only 3.500.000 had become naturalized citizens. Although a large number of aliens returned to Europe during the World War and immigratioi to this country during that period was also greatly reduced. yet it is estimated that there are now about 17.000.000 aliens residing in this country. of which at least 5.000.000 can not speak the English language. Two hundred thousand of those aliens who were drafted for United States military service could not speak or understand the English language. I saw one company in the United States Army containing members born in 28 foreign countries. none of whom could speak or understand the English anguage when inducted into service.