Speech #660273316

That may be true. but there is not a Member of this House who could have looked upon that body of imni:grants as 1 did that day but what would recognize that they were of an undesirable class. Practically all of them were weak. small of stature. poorly clad. emaciated. and in a condition which showed that the environment surrounding them in their European homes were indeed very bad. It is for this reason that I say the class of immigrants coming to the shores of the United States at this time are not the kind of people we want as citizens in this country. It is a wellknown fact that the majority of immigrants coming to this country at the present time are going into the large industrial centers instead of the agricultural centers of the United States. and when it is taken into consideration that the large centers are already crowded to the extent that there is hardly sufficient living quarters to take care of the people it can be readily seen that this class of people. instead of becoming of service to the conmmnities where they go. they will become charges to be taken care of by charitable institutions. The week I visited Ellis Island I was told that 25.000 immigrants had been unloaded at that port. From their personal appearance they seemed to be the offeasts of the countries from which they came. The cost of living in the United States has increased several hundred per cent in the last few years. Those who are coming to our shores are not able to speak our language. they only have a small amount of money on hand. and it is only a question of a few weeks until their resources will all be used up. I have been told that there are certain individuals in this country who make it their business to exploit immigrant labor coming from certain countries. The immigrant. realizing that he can not speak our language. natuially turns to a former countrynman for help. and instead of enjoying the fruits of his labor a large portion of what he earns is taken from him as a commission for the assistance given him. If the immigrants coming to this country were of a class that sought employment on the farms and were capable and willing to render this kind of service to the Nation. then there would be no reason for this legslation. However. the opposite is true. and instead of becoming producers they at once become consumers. thereby working a hardship on every industry throughout the Nation. I am sure that the United States Congress has no desire to cast any reflection against the citizens of any country.