Speech #680077007

The American people are overwhelmingly in favor of reducing the number. It is claimed that the bill that has been reported to the Senate on the basis of the census of 191.0 reduces the number. but it does not reduce the number very materially. The greatest immigration that we have ever had. as I recall. was something like 1.200.000 gross. that is my recollection. and if I am mistaken about It I should like to be corrected. I think the highest number wvas 1.2010.000 that ever ca me over in any one year. and here we have. according to one count. half a million this year. and. according to the figures given me by the department. there will not be less than 714.000 gross who will come in this year. The number is entirely too ninny. If we are going to restrict. let us restrict . and. in my judgment. the best method of restricting immigration is to base the quota on the census of 1890. 1 believe that the amendment of the Senator from Mississippi which has been offered fixing the qouta on the basis of the census of 1890 ought to be adopted. I want to say. Senators. that in my judgment threefourths of the American people. whether Democrats or Republicans. are in favor of that method of dealing with this question. There are a great many people in this country who believe that we ought to have an immigration holiday. that there ought to be several years before we permit any more immigrants to conie in. I do not subscribe to that view. I think that a very limited immigration should be allowed. This bill very admirably arranges that by giving preference to the children. to the husbands. to the fathers. to the nmithers. and to the wives. and then basing the quota on the census of 1890. That is a most admirable arrangement. If we could eliminate the question of politics. if we could eliminate the question of interest to any particular individual. there would hardly be a vote cast against the quota based on the census of 1890. We all know in our hearts that we believe immigration ought to be restricted. and we all know in our hearts that this is really the best way In which to restrict it. The people of my State are almost unanimous in the view that the quota ought to be established according to the census of 1890. and I sincerely hope that the amendment of the Senator from Mississippi may be adopted. Mr.