Speech #680076806

Mr. President. coming from the South. as I do. I know that we have not heard as much of immigration as they have in other parts of the United States. In my State we have only about onehalf of 1 per cent of foreign population. We are very much in earnest. however. in regard to the measure nOW before the Senate. It is one of the most important bills that has been or that will be before us. When we are reminded that we had only 3.000.000 white population in this country in 1790. and that In 1920 we had 47.330.000 of white native population. amounting to 49.9 per cent of the white population in the United States. but in 1920 we had 47.490.000 foreigners and descendants of foreigners. comprising 50.1 per cent of the white population. we are certainly reminded that the time has come when we must not only restrict immigration but we must stop it altogether for the present. I am strongly In favor of a selective method if Congress will not close the door. It was enlightening to the Senate to hear the Senator from New York state in his speech the other day that out of 137.000 births in New York 60 per cent were children of foreign parentage. When we consider how the population in those great cities Is growing we certainly should not be unmindful of our duty In the restriction of further immigration. When the Senator made that statement I was reminded that I hazi just read a day or two previous a statement to the effect that in the penitentiaries and prisons of New York over onehalf of those confined there were foreigners. and also the startling statement was made that ninetenths of the inmates of the asylums in New York were foreigners.