Speech #680074394

It must be borne In mind that the act of 1917 keeps away from our doors the undesirable and only permits. after roper Inspection and proper tests. their admission. if they are otherwise qualified to be admitted. We must. therefore. assume that only those who will inure to the benefit of America are allowed to enter and those who are undesirable and can not pass the tests are not admitted. That is what I call safeguarding and protecting our shores from undesirables. but when we place a stamp of approval upon one race as against another. because one was born in one part of Europe and. the other in a different part of Europe. no matter how qualified he may be. and tell these people from southern Europe and eastern Europe. "Yes. you are qualified. you are a good man (or a good woman). you would make a good citizen. you also have every requirement that this country wants. but you can not enter these shores because we gave you only a small quota." It does not require much further argument than to say that to vote for the proposed bill with the present quota is contrary to the principles of this country. contrary to our treaties with the foreign nations in spite of the fact that the House Immigration Committee attempted to amend its bill to keep within the borderline of violation. The committee in considering this important measure has almost entirely disregarded the opponents to the bill in spite of the fact that the evidence presented before the comnnittee warranted some relief in the measure with regard to labor in many industries in the United 8tates. andi. as an example. we will take the cotton industry today. which is crippled as a result of labor. There should be sufficient labor to produce an amount of American cotton equal to the world requirements at a price which would give the grower a fair return. at the same time being low enough to prevent the stimulation of cotton growing in other countries and to prevent the hampering of a free movement of the commodity in this country.