Speech #680074414

Mr. Speaker. during the past three months I the World War. when more than 5.000.000 American workmen have received numerous petitions concerning immigration signed were without employment and suffering privations. by many residents of the tenth Ohio congressional district. This is a good general law. Defects as they develop. can which district I have the honor to. represent. These petitions be remedied. For one. I resent the attitude taken by those generally ask nie to support the Johnson immigration bill. now European countries which seek to tell us what we should do by under consideration. I have assured them that I would sup- way of admitting their citizens to our land. No foreign governport this bill. ment has the right to tell the United States whom we shall I bear no ill feeling toward those who have come to America or shall not admit. In selecting immigrants it is natural that from foreign lands. Perhaps our American Indian is the only preference should be given to husbands. wives. and minor real American who is neither an immigrant nor a descendant children of alien residents who have declared their intention of an immgrant. It is not so material as to how long ones to become American citizens. to immigrants who. served in the ancestors may have resided in America. hut it is essential that military or naval service of the United States during the we as Americans are true and loyal citizens. I believe that World War and such other classes as may properly qualify the present Secretary of Labor. Hon. James J. Davis. is as under our quota restrictions. The .passage of this bill is prompted by neither malice nor hatred toward the nationals of any foreign country. It is only an American effort to protect the rights of our American citizens. It does not discriminate in favor of the American whose ancestors have been here 300 years as against -the American who is himself such immigrant. Neither does it discriminate against any nationality. However. It does safeguard our institutions against indiscriminate immigration. pending the assimilation of the 13.000.000 aliens now within our borders. This law not only protects our American ideals. It also protects American labor.