Speech #680076281

Seventyfive per cent of whatever number estimated would come from southern and eastern Europe. Let us carry this further and see how this would affect Italy. The census of 1920 shows nearly 14.000.000 foreign born In this country. The Italians have out of that number 9ver 1.600.000. nearly oneseventh of the total. This being true. under the father. mother. wife. and child clause of the proposed law. If our estimates are correct. there might come about half a million of Italians to this country from those who are already here. They would reap a greater advantage under this clause than any other nationalty. because their immigration Is of recent date. This clause should be stricken or amended. Permit me to say further that if the proof is correct which we have had before our committee. it does not lay within their mouths to complain. because it is authoritatively stated that people going out of Italy are required to have a passport. and that they only give to those people whom they desire to emigrate the passports. It is charged that for the purpose of getting around the quota system now in vogue in the United States that they have persistently given passports to men and refused passports to mens families. so as to prevent taking up the whole quota In order to systematically create a sentiment in this country against the division of families.