Speech #710127008

C.. who serves under Robe Carl White. Assistant Secretary of Labor. Generally speaking. our courts are not crowded with naturalization cases. Of course it is true that the courts were congested in those cities which have large foreign population. But that congestion is being relieved by the act of June 8. 1926. in which Congress authorized any United States district judge to designate examiners to conduct preliminary naturalization hearings and make findings and recommendations. which the court may receive and adopt as the final judgment. if it sees fit. Indeed. further relief may be provided by extending the provisions of that act to the State courts. if necessary. Yet the alien is slow to accept the privilege of citizenship the United States extends to them. . Those who become naturalized do so only after an average term of 10 years residence in this country. And why is it that millions of the foreign born remain aliens in our midst? It seems to me that it is because the alien has no personal contact with the United States Government. His contacts too often are with those of his own nationality alone. and his confidence is sometimes betrayed by them. Let us view for a moment the situation which inspired Israel Zangwills play. The Melting Pot. the production of which was attended by President Roosevelt and his Cabinet in 1907. Zangwills idea was to stimulate immigration into the United States from all over the world. but particularly from Russia.