Speech #660273199

I wonder why they have not read that paragraph? For the purpose of showing how unfair some of the advocates of this legislation have been by selecting a few short paragraphs out of this lengthy statement. I insert a greater portion of that article. which was originally published by the Brooklyn Eagle and which has been reproduced and reprinted and sent broadcast by the restrictionists bureau: The greatest problem in America today is immigration. Under the new rigime at Ellis Island. where 90 per cent of the Immigrants to this country arrive. important physical. mental. and moral changes have taken place and are still taking place. Under a former r6gime physical. mental. and moral conditions were a disgrace. an abomination. and a menace. Filth has given place to cleanliness. brutality has given place to kindness. and degradation has given place to uplift. The immigrant who comes to Ellis Island today is treated as a human being. The changes today are due to the splendid administration of Frederick A. Wallis the present commissioner of immigration at Ellis Island. Great as tLese changes are. important as they are in influencing the lives and actions of the future Americans. composing as they do part of the solution of the overtoweringproblem that must be solved. there is another part of the problem that outranks them and reaches far above them. That part concerns the whole future of the United States of America. The beginning and the end of that major part of the problem is embodied in the questions : What benefit will the United States receive by the admission of aliens to this country? What detriment will accrue to the United States by the unrestricted admission of aliens to this country? On the answers to these two questions hang the rise or the fall of a mighty nation. " For three hours the other day I talked with Commissioner Wallis on immigration. He explained to me the work he has done in the five months in which he has been in control. He told me of the efforts he has been making to create the impression in the newcomers to this land ofthe free and this home of the brave that it is a land of the free and a home of the brave in fact and deed as well as in song and story.