Speech #680091078

Living upon these farms are approximately 29.000.000 people. constituting almost exactly 27 per cent of our population and representing. according to the census of 1920. a wealth of $77.000.000.000. From the standpoint of the nationality of the men and women who live upon the land. I am very glad to say that the discussions of the last week or 10 days upon the immigration bill have developed the fact that nearly 90 per cent of those living upon the farms of the United States are nativeborn American citizens. In the light of the stress that is being put upon our institutions in these days and in the light of the rapidly increasing proportion of foreignborn citizens in the great centers of population I want to say to the members of this committee that the statement that 90 per cent of the people who live upon the farms of the United States are native born is a consideration that ought not to be passed lightly by. Remember that out there in the open country is a force. a strong force. of nativeborn citizenship. steeped in the traditions of this beloved land of ours. that will "stand to and abide by" in the days of storm and stress.