Speech #680073938

These statements. as nearly all others. are unfounded and unwarranted. We are not for an open door. Though opposing every harsh rrovision In every immigration bill. I have always stood for selected and limited Immigration. The advocates of this legislation also charge that It Is a foreign bloc that is opposed to this legislation. This statement I have already challenged. and again challenge. the same as the charge that the present immigration call not assimilate and are undesirable. Furthermore. no one that I know of favoring this legislation maintains that the Immigrant claims any vested rights. Gentlemen. I repeat that my interests are the interests of America. and that I am trying to the best of my ability to legislate In tite interest of America and In the future welfare of our country. and as one who helped to draft (he 1917 act I will say without fear of successful contradiction that I was responsible for the embodiment in that law of more beneficial and restrictive provisions than any other member of the committee. I am in favor of provisions In this bill which tend to humanize an(l strengthen our immigration law. but I am opposed to discriminatory and harsh provisions. I am against the use of the 1890 census as a basis. as it is bound to wound the feelings of at least 6.000.000 of our citizens. I am against the provision that would classify about 6.000.000 of our citizens as being inferior. when all the reliable facts disprove such contention. and which is only based on discredited. false. and unfounded theories.