Speech #710027466

We rallied our forces. Democrats and Republicans alike. from the West and the South. and we passed it again. and President Wilson vetoed it. But we fought on and on and succeeded in passing the immigration bill again and President Coolidge signed it. It is the best immigration law that we have had in 50 years. It protects the rights and interests of the American people. and we are now trying to keep American guards at the gates to prevent this influx of foreigners from coming again. But here they are coming again in a roundabout way. making the shrewdest sort of attempt. as the Senator from Pennsylvania said. to break down the barrier against immigration. to tear down the law that we now have. I well remember the. speech of Representative Burnett of Alabama in the House of Representatives. He told about being in Sicily years ago and asking the natives. "What has become of all the bandits that used to give you so much trouble?" And they answered. "They have all gone to the United States." Mr. President. those were dangerous days for our country. and we are still suffering from the loose immigration laws that afflicted our people in those evil days. The agents representing the steamship companies. as I said. and other interests. were going through foreign lands and telling the people. "The ship will sail at a certain time. get ready. get your tickets and go to America." They were drumming them up until immigration reached the enormous figure of 1.300.000 a year. I have no apology to make for the part I played in the House of Representatives and in the Senate in preventing such a colossal and inexcusable number of foreigners from coming into our country. Now that we have a law that is a good law.