Speech #680078843

In just a moment. I propose to offer. if this amendment should carry. in lieu of section 4 another section which will give preference to (a) under section 4. As to "an immigrant who is the unmarried child under 18 years of age. father or mother over 55 years of age. husband. or wife of a citizen of the United States who resides therein at the time of the filing of a petition." of course. I think they ought to have the preference when It comes to permitting immigrants to come to this country. but I do not believe that they ought to be allowed to come without being counted. I think they ought to be counted in the quota. and for that reason I think we ought to strike out absolutely section 4. Now. there is another reason for striking out section 4 that I want to go on record upon. You talk a great deal about closing the front door against undesirable immigrants. What is the use in closing the front door to keep out the undesirables from Europe when you permit Mexicans to come in here by the back door by thousands and thousands? In the city of Gary. Ind.. right now. in the great steel industry. there are thousands of Mexicans crowded in together and standing at the doors waiting to get places in the factories. the places of those who are now on the job. It seems to me if we are going to have an immigration law the Mexican ought not to be put before the Italian. such as my good friend here. who is a citizen of the United States. Yet you propose in this bill to close the front door and permit only a few Italians and a few people on the other side to come in. while you are leaving the hack door wide open to these people from Mexico. I believe we should treat them all alike and make the quota apply to Mexico.