Speech #680076268

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen [applause] the enactment and enforcement of proper immigration laws for the protection of this Republic are at present the most serious propositions which we have to consider. It is farreaching. not only for the protection and preservation of the rights and liberties which we now enjoy but for future generations. In 1820 the Government began to count the number of immigrants who landed. in this country. but not until 1882 was any legislation passed seeking to control or limit immigration. The Chinese exclusion act was passed In this year. and also an exclusion of fanatics. lunatics. idiots. persons likely to become a public charge. The next step was the passport agreement with Japan. which became effective in 1908. Various amendments were passed in reference to qualifications of immigrants in 1889. 1893. 1903. and In 1917 the Burnett Act was passed. which is now known as the Immigration act of this country. This act deals with the mental. moral. physical. and educational condition of the immigrant who seeks admission. In May. 1921. the 3 per cent immigration act was passed. which placed tls quota on the census of 1910 of the numnber of foreign born of each nationality in this country at that time. The law expired by limitation June 30. 1922. by the act of May 11. 1922. its life was extended to June 30. 1924. and it Is under this act that we are now operating. You can readily see that some legislation must be had prior to June 30 of this year. and if this Is not done. it is said tlm:t millions are waiting on foreign shores looking In across the expiring date and ready to flood our shores. If such a thing were to occur. It would be a blow at. the vitals of our institutions and Government. Under the quota system of 3 per cent there were admitted Into this country in 1923. 335.480. under the quota system as we are now proposing in this bill there will only be admitted Into this country under the quota during next year 161.184. From June. 1913. to June. 1914. prior to the great World War. 1.218.480 Immigrants came to this country. and out of this numnber 75.6 per cent came from south and eastern Europe. from June. 1920. to June. 1921. after the war was over. 805.228 Immigrants came to America. and 66.7 per cent of said number were from south and eastern Europe. They were rapidly approaching the prewar proportions until the present law was enacted. It Is said that in 1923. 3.000.000 people were ready to come to America If our doors had been open. that 150.000 Greeks alone were clamoring for admission. With this great influx of people from foreign countries. was It not necessary. and is it not still necessary. that we place the strongest kind of restriction and selection upon our immigrants? The census of 1920 shows that there were nearly 14.000.000 of foreign birth in the United States. Statistics show that of all males over 21 years of age in the United States 22.1 per cent are of foreign birth. which is over onefifth of the total. O course. much higher percentages are reported in certain sections of the country. In the Western Atlantic States--New York. New Jersey. and Pennsylvania85.4 per cent of the male population 21 years of age and over Is foreign born. In the New England States. 38.2 per cent. in Massachusetts. 41.9 per cent. in Boston. 46.3 per cent. and in New York City. 53.4 per cent. And it Is further estimated that 80 per cent of the population in New York City is either foreign born or of foreign parentage. Is not this condition alarling. when such a great proportion of the voting strength of this country Is In the hands of foreign born? Call you imagine a more threatening condition to our institutions and our laws than to pick up foreigners by the thousands coming from Europe. with different environments. different teachings. different ideals and ideas of the form of government. and allow them to come to this country and. in the course of five yearsas our naturalization laws now providebe given the rights of citizenship and the right to vote and exercise the smine privileges which we exercise? To my mind this is the most d[ngerous condition which can exist in our country. and It means the absolute destruction of our form of government and our institutions if not stopped. Suppose we concede. for the sake of argument. that those who come are as intelligent as we are. as moral as we are. as lawabiding as we are. but coming as they do. with different enviromnents. different ideas of government. different social relations and fdeals. they will hold on to their ideals. spreading their doctrines in this country and undertaking to force the same upon us.