Speech #700062159

Let me add right herealthough it should not be necessarythat we who oppose this provision do so wholly and solely in the interest of our Nation and our country. Obviously. I have no time to discuss the immigration probleiand it is a problemor the nationalorigins provision in the act of 1924. Nor is it necessary. The hearings before the Comnittees on Immigration in both Houses of Congress and hundreds upon hundreds of pages in the CONGRESSIONAL RPCOur these last four years furnish ample material for anyone desirous of acquainting himself with the facts. In passing. I again want to call the attention of my colleagues to a table prepared by a statistician of repute and renown. Doctor Norlie. which I inserted in the RncoRD on January 17 of this year. a table which. with other data. furnishes food for thought to any unbiased mind. Today I have but one suggestion to imake. The debate on the immigration bills during the last few years became at times somewhat bitter. The atmosphere wits surcharged with rancor and prejudice. the air was filled with epithets of "foreigners." " aliens." and the like. with all the implications conveyed by those terms. The accusation was made in so many words that those who opposed certain provisions of the proposed immigration laws were "not many generations removed from Europe." and hence very unAmerican. to put it mildly. The finest and noblest type of American manhood today. the ideal of American youth. the bestloved man in the world. and the most valuable life in the United States today. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. is not only "not many generations removed from Europe." but is the son of an immigrant. proud of his American citizenship. but also justly proud of his Swedish ancestry and heritage. If the proposed guesswork legislation had been the law of the land some years ago. in all likelihood Colonel Lindbergh would not have been born in America. The LoneEagle is flying over the Nations Capital these days. carrying as passengers Members of Congress and their families. Many of us have already made the delightful trip with this pilot. having no misgivings as o our safety and security in Iris care. Many others will avail themselves of the coveted opportunity. My suggestion is this: That on tomorrow or Saturday tire Members of the Immigration Committees of both Houses of Congress who favor the actual operation of. the nationalorigins ilan be given a special trip by Colonel Lindbergh. in order that they may have the privilege of even closer contact with this man. an example of tire class of people that are having tire door shut in their face by this provision that proposes to reduce by nearly twothirds the annual immigration from Sweden. Norway. Denmark.