Speech #670012031

We can not afford to throw our doors open to every wild fanatic and diseased criminal who desires to come to America. Mr. P esident. all of the immigration laws passed heretofore by Congress have either been misinterpreted by those who administered them or It was found after Congress had adjourned that there was an innocentlooking provision through which undesirable foreigners could come. There are always shrewd men to fight restricted immigration when this question comes up in Congress. We have had yesterday and today four and a half hours of argument by the Senator from Missouri in opposition to this meritorious measure. The Senator from Missouri. among other things. asked: "What has foreign immigration done for this country?" Well. Mr. President. it has done a great deal that is good in times past. and in recent years it has done a great deal that is exceedingly harmful. Because our ancestors were immigrants who loved American institutions. and after coming here helped to make the Nation the glorious thing she is. that is no reason why we should now permit the coming in of those who despise our institutions and desire their destruction. This is our Government. ours to support and sustain. ours to love and cherish. ours to defend against an undsirable and dangerous alien army seeking to bring here a propaganda destructive 6f American institutions. On which side are we. Senators? The Senator from Missouri asks. "What has immigration done for us?" In many localities it has sinned against American institutions very grievously. In New York City one night during the World War I had been speaking in the interest of the Liberty loan. I have told of this incident once before. but it illustrates the point. and I will tell it again. We had a fine meeting and sold about a million and a quarter dollars worth of bonds. On the way back to the railroad station I saw one of those fellows. referred to by the Senator from Missouri. who came to America as an immigrant. He was on a soap box haranguing about 150 fellows. who seemed to be in thorough sympathy with him. It was at 12 oclock at night.