Speech #710030712

He has given much thought and attention to this matter. He is unusually well Informed on the subject. He has been deeply concerned about the class of immigrants that come to our shores. but illness has kept the Senator away from the Senate during this session. Before the war our immigration from Europe had been rapidly increasing and had reached an annual total far exceeding a million persons. After the war interruption. there were indications of a further increasing number. Some of these migrated from countries that sent us their worst people instead of their best. Restrictive steps were first taken in 1920. A more drastic measure was passed in 1924. which practically limited the immigration from European countries and dependencies to 150.000 annually. or oneeighth of the previous number. The immigration question was really settled. for the European countries were assigned such small quotas that the new arrivals were hardly noticed. I will later refer to the different quotas in detail. The restricted immigration law does not apply to South America. They may be Spanish or Portuguese. Indians or African blacks. Nothing has been done toward restricting the large immigration from Mexico. from whence more than onethird of the immigrants arrive in this country. They are really invited. whereas the north Europeans are told to keep away lest they contaminate our national strain. There is no limit to the immigrants that come from Canada. though this is of less importance. as the larger population of the Dominion is of north European stock. The 1920 census showed there were 18.291 negroes in Canada. Mr. President. the question before the Senate now Is not whether a larger number of immigrants shall come from the quota countries. It is a question what country shall be given preference. If the nationalorigins theory. so ably and enthusiastically championed. in season and out of season by the Senator from Pennsylvania should prevail. the principal effects would be to reduce the German and Scandinavian quotas.