Speech #680081754

Mr. HARRIS. Tle Senator from South Carolina was chairI rise simply to make a statement. and it would hardly seem man of the Committee on Immigration for several years. to be necessary for me to do even that after the pithy. instruc- and has studied this question a great deal. I wish to ask tive. and most interesting address which We have Just heard him if he does not think that if we should prohibit immigrafrom the Serntor from Texas . tion for five years it would be a good thing for the country? I shall vote it favor of total Japanese exclusion. and yet I Mr. SMITH. Mr. President. let me answer the Senator can truthfully say that 1 do0 so with the deepest regret. I have from Georgia categorically and unequivocally "yes." because a \Cry grett admiration for the Japanese people. for their under the quota proposition we shall have a very inefficient valor. for their steady habits. for their industrial capacity. for and unsatisfactory selective process for the admission of immigrants. We shall have in name and theory selection as to physical. moral. and mental fitness. but all of us know that the human equation enters into the question. and that the people who are most desirable for us as immigrants are those who do not emigrate from their country and immigrate into ours. The people who are of the character that might tem.porarily be of benefit to us are those who are preeminently needed in their own country. and who find their place there and not here. I know that we have some shining exceptions to that rule. but they prove the rule rather than discount it. Reverting to the argument that seems to be considered so pertinent that there will only be a small quota allowed for those of questionable origin and of questionable advantage to this country. inasmuch as unpleasantness might arise from certain laws that we might pass as to quota and as to national origins and as to racial distinctions. why not. if it is of equal benefit to this country. or. to put it in another form. if no harm may be done America. accept an amendment shutting the door to all immigration for such a length of time as in the judgment of the Senate would enable us to take stock of what we have. consider the conditions that would arise from such a measure. and determine whether or not it would be more beneficial than this questionable method of accomplishing what is in the minds of all of us? Why not restrict or shut out immigration from all foreign countries. because we may rest assured that the immigrants that come here are the least desirable of all the citizens from the countries from which they come? I think that might be a desirable solution of the problem in view of what seems to be not only an acute case in reference to Japan. but of a feeling that seems to be recognized by men in high official position in our Government that a certain action on our part might bring about unpleasant relations. No unpleasantness could result and no great amount of harm could be done so far as an increase in population is concerned if we were to adopt the simple method of shutting the door.