Speech #670043042

Mr. Speaker. in the time allotted me I can not say what I wish to say about this bill. On May 19 last the President of the United States signed the immigration bill. which we passed a few days prior to the signing. That bill. while it did not express my views regarding immigration entirely. will do a great deal toward checking immigration if properly enforced and not meddled with by Congress. That bill was passed in answer to the mandate of the people last year who demanded that Congress pass an immigration law that would really restrict immigration. On the 3 per cent basis as provided for in the immigration bill the quota of immigrants for the month of June was exhausted many days ago. The resolution we have before the House now is inspired by the owners of the ships engaged in transporting immigrants from Europe to the United States of America. During the hearings before the Immigration Committee it was developed that the owners of the ships carried the immigrants who now seek entrance into the United States in excess of the quota allowed under the immigration bill. and the immigrants on the said ships were informed of the passage of the law and knew of the conditions that prevailed in this country regarding immigration. but dsregarding the information that they. could not enter the United States. they raced across the ocean to Ellis Island. and now we have nearly 10.000 aliens who are undertaking to force their entry into the United States. No doubt this resolution will pass. because the Republican Party has always. during the last few years especially. catered to the big interests to the -detriment of the masses in the United States. There has been a lobby at work in Washington to influence the passage of this resolution. If the resolution does not pass. the owners of the ships will. under the law. be required to carry the immigrants back to the countries from whence they came without charge. If the resolution passes. these aliens will be permitted to land in the United States in violation of the solemn judgment of Congress a few weeks ago. No wonder the people are becoming disgusted already at the way this Republican Congress is handling the affairs of the Nation. When Congress passes a bill that is worth anything great publicity is given it. as was done when the immigration bill was passed. but now you have undertaken to nullify the bill which the people demand that you pass. and I dare say that you will not court much publicity on the passage of this resolution. for you know that the people of the United States are tired of the influx of immigrants from Europe to this country. Mr. Speaker. there are millions of people out of employment in the United States today. especially in the large industrial centers. To allow more Immigrants to come into this country at this time only makes greater competition for the labrers who are trying to find employment. The laboring classes are protesting against Europeans coming to this country. They know that it means competition to them. that it means reducing the standard of -American living for the working men. Mr. Speaker. our first duty here is to guard well the interests of those who produce. Of course I realize that the great steel corporations. the big mining interests and railroad interests of the country will be glad to see as many immigrants as possible. because they can work the illiterate European for less money than demanded by the American laborer. Mr. Speaker. there is not nor have I ever heard of a bolshevist. anarchist. or syndicalist in this country who was born and reared here. They come from Europe to our country .to enjoy the privileges and immunities of this great Government. but. Mr. Speaker. on account of the lax .enforcement of the immigration laws of this country thousands of anarchists and men who do not believe in our laws and our form of government have been dumped upon society. It is time that we put the bars up. The aliens now detained at Ellis Island knew when they left Europe that they could not enter America lawfully.