Speech #680115676

This is by far the best bill on this subject we have ever had in tle United States. It will do more for our country than any other -bill that has been passed by Congress. in my humble judgment. since I have been a Member of the Senate. I .fought for exclusion of all immigration for .five years. in the committee. on the floor of the Senate. and in conference. but I could not get what I wanted in conference. I never have been -able to -get. from people that did not egee with me. all that I would like to get. The men who construct things in this world are the men who can be criticized. and it Is far easier tocriticize than it is to construct. and it is ioften necessary to compromise and get the best you can in order to get anything. Those who opposed restrictive immigration in the House voted against this conference report. They think it is too restrictive. The enemies of restrictive immigration are ihoping the Senate will vote down this conference report and defeat all hope of legislation this session. We have here a measure that I believe meets AIth the up1proval of the country. If I had had my way. we would not have had any iinmgration for five -years. and with tle exemptions I made I think it would have been far better if my bill had passed. because then we would have had no embarrassment with Japan or any other country. We wouhl only have allowed the fathers and nothers over .55 years of age and children under 18. of American citizens residing in this country. to come here. and not so many would have come. -and not near so many would have come in as under the Senate bill. I am sorry my distinguished friend from AIississippi does not agree with :me. i[ did not agree with everything ie did. .I -recall. if I anl not mistaken. that the Senator from Mississippi made the motion to increase !the -percentage from 1 to 2 per cent after the Senate had voted for 1 per cent here. I wanted to shut 0ut immigration entirely for five years. aid when my amendment was voted -down I voted for 1 per cent. and the Senator from Mississippi certainly voted for 2 iper cent if lie did not make the motion. while I voted .for I per cent. I did not get mad with him because of that. The Senator from Mississippi is on the Committee on Immilgration.and has done asplendid work.