Speech #710268860

Without objection. it is so ordered. Secretary Doak spoke as follows: My radio friends. I have been requested to speak to you tonight on the subject of immigration. a subject which has always been of vital interest to our people. but which of late has been more widely discussed before the committees in Congress and in many of the public forums throughout the country than ever before. In recent months it has been proposed that during the present emergency. especially. immigration should be suspended altogether. It has also been advocated that a further limitation be placed on the number of entrants permitted to come in. so that but a small percentage of the number admissible under existing laws would be permitted to enter the country. The question of further restriction in immigration Is now receiving the attention of the Immigration Committee of the Congress. In late years the need for a still further limitation in Immigration has been apparent to all who are really interested in the wellbeing of all our people. whether native or foreign born. I am one of those who has always believed that our first duty is to safeguard the interests of our own people. I also believe in strict enforcement of our immigration laws. but in a just and humane way. Our Government has always given to those who have entered our gates from other lands that freedom of opportunity and protection of law that it accords to its citizens. In return we have asked only of those admitted that they observe our laws. show their faith in our institutions. and maintain a sympathetic attitude with our form of government. Immigrants. from the beginning. have flocked to America to better themselves. Economic forces rather than political freedom actuated the great majority who came to our shores. and this applies to the modern immigrants. who wander from their homes and. as their forefathers did. eagerly search for a more assured means of livelihood and prosperity. Of course. there are some people in the United States who oppose the restriction of immigration on any basis. Restricted immigration Is also opposed as a departure. from a timehonored policy. When this Republic was founded we had much undeveloped territory and immigration was encouraged. We needed agricultural labor to farm the lands. other labor to build railroads and to aid in the development of a new country. But of late years there are comparatively few of the immigrants arriving who go to the farms. and there is generally sufficient other labor here for practically all our needs. There may be instances where a particular kind of labor is required for the best interests of developing a new industry. but even these instances are very much limited in the present emergency. Modern methods of production and improved laborsaving machinery have curtailed the opportunities. particularly for common labor. The great bulk of all immigrants who come here come here to work. and where we have enough labor in this country we are proceeding upon a false premise when we accentuate our employment problems by encouraging a flow Of immigration which can not be absorbed and will only increase the number who must be provided with employment. I regret to say that some of those who have entered this country have not been actuated by the desire to improve their opportunities and to join with us in the upbuilding and upholding of our institutions. They come here for other purposes. as you know.