Speech #680078813

Chairman. some of the proponents of this measure have wrapped the American flag about themselves and have shouted "America" as an argument for this bill. Let me say to these gentlemen that there is not a man in the House against this bill who is not a good American. Our iconcern is not only for the desirable immigrants but rather because if the 1890 census is adopted as a basis for Immigration quotas there will be established by law a principle that in the United States citizens who may have been born .in southern or eastern Europe. or whose ancestors may have been born there. are inferior to those citizens who were. or whose ancestors were. born in northern and western Europe. We say that such a principle or any such law is unAmerican. We claim further that no immigrant has any claim to America. and likewise that no class -or race of people in this country has any greater right than .has another class or race of people in the United States. The amendment which I have offered amends subdivision c of section 2. which provides that immigration certificates shall be valid for :only two months. In the last section of the bill there is provided that immigration certificates may be issued prior to July 1. 1924. which means that if this law is passed before the 1st of May immigration certificates may be issued on the 1st of May or at any time before July 1. 1924. These certificates will not be valid at all. because since they can not be used by the 1st of July. the new quota law will not be operative until July 1. 1924. Here is another point. Your certificate plan will insure to the immigrant that he need not break up his home until he gets his certificate. He will not make preparations to go to America. for travel. until he gets 1921i his certificate. You give him only 60 days after he gets the certificate during which to sell his effects. secure his passage to America. and board the steamer.