Speech #680074204

WILSON of Louisiana. The principal objection offered alien -radicals and internationalists to subvert the labor organi- to the pending measure is the charge that basing the quotas on zations in this country. the census of 1890 discriminates as between certain countries In respect to this phase of the situation your coaunittee. and certain sections of Europe. This claim grows out of the after hearing and considering all the facts. reached the con fact that in the early history of the country and up until about clusion that a further restriction of immigration would sub- 80 years ago the tide of immigration to America came largely v tfrom northern and western Europe. and that during the past serve the interests e1 labor lid industry. 30 years the greatest volume of immigration has come from AoaIcuLTUIIIm southern and eastern Europe. It has been proven and is well Pleas were made to the committee for the inclusion in the known that of thiW latter immigration there is a large unasbill of flexible provisions for tile admittance of farmners and similated mass in this country flow. In many places these imfarn laborers. Attention was called to the many assertions migrants are segregated into communities where no Americanithat the nativeborn American was leaving the farm and that zation program has been fully effective. On that account there in order to keep agriculture going it would be necessary to is a large portion of the population. predominant In certain adjust the immigration law so that aliens might eater and take localities. that has little knowledge of the character of Amerihis place. can institutions and life. and hence little sympathy in that A propaganda to this effect seems to havereached every part direction. It will take years of untiring effort on the part of tile country. but it should be sufficient reply to point to the of the Nation and the States to adjust this population on any fact that our farmers are now producing a surplus of prac- kind of safe American basis. tically every staple agricultural product. What the farmer Therefore it becomes desirable and necessary. if the percentneeds is a wider market and a better price. An increase in age plan is continued at all. to change the date of the census production would only complicate the situation. From the on which tile quota is based so as to check the incoming tide farmers viewpoint the best thing an alien could do would be of immigration of that kind. The very fact that when we to remain in his own country. take his part In the rehabilita- attempt to do this the cry of discrimination against certain tion of its industries. the reestablishment of its government. countries and peoples Is raised is sufficient evidence that our and the readjustment of its currency on a sound basis. duty Is plain. There Is really no attempt to discriminate thereby becoming a substantial customer for our surplus pro- against any European country or the people thereof or thereduction. from. but there is an actual determination to legislate in favor of America.