Speech #710224333

As long as we have a carpenter. bricklayer. or day laborer out of employment. we should not admit another carpenter. bricklayer. or day laborer. Our first duty is to our own. A law should be passed at once. without impairing in any way our existing contract labor law. not only restricting immigration from all the countries of this hemisphere and cutting down immigration from Europe. but also giving the President on recommendations of the Secretary of Labor authority to suspend all immigration if and when justified by economic and industrial conditions in the United States. Last year 64.440 immigrant aliens entered from Canada. 40.154 from Mexico. 2.011 from Newfoundland. and 3.026 from Cuba. Unquestionably many of these. being in a strange land. had to find work at any wage that would keep body and soul together. and consequently many now have taken places that persons already here ought to have had. Because of this situation many of our own people must have suffered hardship. There is no reason why a visa should be given any intending immigrant by our consuls abroad unless that alien can show that his presence will not be detrimental to working people already here. I call attention to and conclude my remarks with the following brief digest of the legislation of various foreign countries: Albania: All alien workers are refused admission. Australia: The Governor General may by proclamation prohibit immigration wholly or in excess of certain numerical limits on account of economic and industrial conditions in the Commonwealth. Argentina: The law lodges full discretion in its immigration officials. Belgian Congo: Aliens who do not have adequate means of support. who are not under contract of employment. or who are undesirable for economic reasons may be excluded. Belgium: Alien workers who have to obtain visas can be admitted upon producing certificates issued them by employers. stating that such aliens will be employed. Brazil: The director general of land settlement Is empowered to suspend or restrict immigration when he deems it necessary. Bulghria: No foreigner domiciled there may take up an occupation unless he obtains an authorization from the Ministry of Commerce. Industry. and Labor. Canada: The Governor General may prohibit or limit in number immigration because of economic or industrial conditions. Admission of immigrants under labor contracts is now prohibited. Czechoslovakia: Alien workers are admitted only upon obtaining certificates from the Minister of Social Welfare and Labor. Denmark: No alien seeking employment may be admitted unless he first obtains certificate from the Minister of Justice.