Speech #680074204

If the preservation of our ideals and institutions and our Government in its essential features as established by the founders of our Republic may be considered of paramount importance. this bill is the most vital legislative- measure of the present Congress. In the preparation of H. R. 7995. known as the Johnson bill. the Committee on Immigration has heard and considered statements from those representing the viewpoint of practically every nation of the world and from those representing almost every important industry of our country as well as members of every kind of educational and civic organization. There are many points about which the committee as a whole- could agree. particularly that conditions in Europe were such that there Is a widely prevalent desire among the inhabitants of many countries to seek admission to the United States. and that In addition to this etemper of the masses there is a general disposition on the part of the various Governments to encourage and assist this emigration regardless of the quality of the emigrants. In factand I think naturally sothe tendency is to land in the United States the more shiftless. the mentally and physically inferior. There is now. as in the past. a feeling in Europe that for some reason it is the duty of the United States to take care of their surplus population. It may be that the propaganda to the effect that this country should be a world asylum and our past record are in a way responsible for this feeling. Your committee has often been confronted with the fact that European countries claim proprietary rights in America and expect that claim to be recognized by Congress. These nations resent a genuine effort to restrict Immigration. and the worst of it is that this resentment is reflected and voiced by their nationals in the United States. We have actually reached the point where it Is difficult to legislate on this question from a strictly American standpoint. While all nations theoretically admit our sovereign rights to control admission of their nationals to our shores. yet when a measure is proposed which puts that right into effect in accordance with our viewpoint and. consonant with our interests these same nations. for one reason or another. enter a protest In which they are joined by alien groups in the United States. They say we are discriminating against their people. For example. some time ago it was proposed to arrange that 50 per cent of the immigrants from a certain country should come on American ships. It was thought in this way we might make up some of the accumulated deficit caused by our shipping operations. But protest was made immediately that such action would materially reduce the profits of the ships of the nation from which the immigrants were coming. the assumption being that It was the duty of the United States to accept immigrants up to the full capacity of their ships to transport them and to refrain from any steps that might interfere with their profits from such immigration. Thle average American Is unable to account for the general feeling in many countries Of Europe that tie United States owes them a vast and unsatisfied obligation. Since the close ot the late war the contention has been that the United States should cancel all the debts due her. and according to those who have spent considerable time abroad there is much ill feeling over the fact that we have not done this. The criticism for a long while was confined chiefly to individuals. but has now become the subject of official comment. due perhaps to the fact that we have Insisted upon an adjustment of the obligations So the conclusion was reached that whatever immigration .due us. While such feeling exists it Is doubtful if we can might be permitted. either of laborers in manufacturing insecure any desirable immigrants from those countries. dustries or of farmers or farm laborers. should be within the Some time ago the vice president of the Belgian Senate. In quota established by the bill. which is 2 per cent based on the an arraignment of the United States for her delinquencies. census of 1890. used this language: Wa SERVICDS It can not be denied that we fought for America and that we Many prominent citizens. formerly nationals of other counsaved her. consequently we are entitled to expect effective help from tries but now naturalized. appeared before the committee In her. Our Government ought to have the courage to tell this to the opposition to the pending bill and urged a more liberal policy American people. toward European countries and their own in particular. giving as reasong for this attitude the services rendered by natives of According to the press report this gentleman explained that various countries during the war. In some instances It was we failed to bear our just share of the sacrifices entailed by urged that the proposed policy of the committee would be unthe war. and he estimates that Instead of Europe owing us fair treatment of the countries from which these young men $12.000.000.000. we owe Europe $88.000.000.000. cae and indicate a lack of appreciation of their loyalty to Referring to the same subject a leading Italian newspaper the United Stnates saidUnitthattes said that- I respectfully submit that to accede to this request would be France can pay America by exports exclusively. while Italy can pay highly dangerous for the Nation in which these former service by exports and by sending Immigrants to America who are capable men now live and a discrimination against those who created of saving and sending their savings to the mother country. and have nade America a desirable home. When the immigrant. The United States has no apologies to make for her part in whether naturalized or not. joined the ranks of the American the late war and will not by legislation admit the correctness fighting forces. he responded to the simple call of duty. He is of claims of this kind. entitled to all the praise and credit due any American soldier. LARo and the very fact that he may now live here. surrounded and The committee gave due consideration to the domestic phases protected by the guaranties of our laws and with all the opporofthe pobemmIttee a nt ducondertich i the lorticpas tunities fforded by our institutions. is full and complete atisof the problem. important among whichi is the hibor Situ- factionl for every sacrifice. I undertake to say that it gives the tion. Thle representatives of manufacturing Inuistries urged country from whichl he came no preferential rights in America a more lenient immigration policy so as to admit aliens for the and authorizes no claim that conflicts with American Interests. purpose of supplying additional labor. and their testimony The Congress has made it possible for every alien who served in some instances indicated that a. shortage of certain kinds in our forces with a good record. on that account alone to beof labor existed at the present time. On the other hand. the come an Amuerican citizen if he so desires. and we all stand for representatives of the American Federation of Labor and the doctrine that if he has become one in fact and in spirit he Is allied organizations contended that with proper wage adjustmeats there would be no need for the importation of ali entitled to all the privileges and protection of the native born. fell n al cout of this the country froa which he came may owe find that the plea of these industries was for th purpose o 1something to America. and I suggest nothing better than for depressing the wage scale In this country. Those who urged that co(untry to hold its undesirables within its own borders. relaxation of the restrictive progwmn could offLer no remedy . allowing America to remain a place where any mal may be for conditions that would result from a period Of unemaploy- proud to live and for vmch it is an honor to make sacrifices in ment such as we had t few years ago when 5.000.000 men were time of peave or war. without work.