Speech #680116615

Mr. Speaker. everyone giving consideration to the question has appreciated the need. particularly since the World War. for restrictive immigration legislation. Otherwise America would simply be overwhelmed with immigrants from every land desiring to escape conditions abroad. The growth of our own population and the necessity for preserving the true spirit of Americanism. as well as the traditions. institutions. and Government of our country. demand not only more care in the selection of immigrants but also require that such immigration shall be restricted to the minimum in order that the United States may not be overwhelmed and overcrowded by an unlimited number of aliens seeking to establish themselves here. The Johnson immigration bill. for which I voted. and which I believe is the best measure obtainable at this time. provides for a 2 per cent quota based upon the census of 1890. This measure reduces the quota from 3 per cent to 2 per cent and thereby reduces the number of immigrants in any one year from 351.803 to an estimated number of 161.184. or over 50 per cent. The Immigration Committee of the House of Representatives. which gave this question long and most serious consideration after the most extensive hearings. reported the Johnson irmmigration bill as a measme needed for the country and aimed not only to insure a better type of immigrant by providing as far as possible for examination and selection in the country from which the immigrant comes. but also by providing a system of certificates and consular vis6s of passports which will operate to prevent steamship companies bringing to America a large number of aliens who through disease or otherwise are ineligible for admission to the United States. but who suffer great hard ships and face ultimate deportation. One of the great problems today facing this country is the assimilation of those who come from foreign countries to our shoresparticularly is this true in the great cities and manufacturing centers of the United Statesand our first duty is to provide for a proper appreciation. understanding. and adoption by them of the principles of government. history. and traditions of our country. so that they may thoroughly identify themselves with it and become true Americans in every sense of the word. America is made up of peoples who have either emigrated themselves from various countries of the world or who are descendants of such emigrants. Out of this. composite type has sprung the greatest nation in the world and a virile and strong spirit of Americanism characterized by love of country and its institutions. and a generous and considerate disposition toward all the world. The question of the extent to which further immigration is to be sanctioned is purely a domestic question with which foreign nations have absolutely no concern whatever. It is one to be determined solely by the American people. and when that determination has been made no foreign country has just ground for complaint. It is entirely within the right of the American people to say who .shall and who shall not be admitted. and.the admission of some and exclusion of others can give no just grounds for offense or constitute any basis for a claim of discrimination.