If Americanism is a step in the progress of the human family in its advancement toward its ultimate destiny. let us make it a firm step from which there will be no retreat. Since Americanism is an inheritance from our forefathers. we must pass it along to our children without weakening it by the addition of too many people who do not agree with our principles of government. There are yet a few people in America who can not bring themselves to a recognition of the fact that the restriction of immigration is a good. safe. and necessary national policy. Despite their lack of numbers they maintain a remarkable cohesiveness. Their representatives are in the National Congress. They are already at work in this session with their program of undermining the immigration wall. They seek to tear down a stone here and there and to penetrate the wall in many different ways. It is to attempt to advise the Members of the House of the status of pending immigration legislation that I arise at this time. In the first place. let me call your attention to bills introduced that seek some modification of the restriction laws. I do not claim that the immigration laws are perfect and can not be improved upon. but I do claim that in these days of depression with many of our best men in all walks of life out of employment. we should be very loath to provide any new avenues by which aliens can find their way into our midst. In times of prosperity we can. assimilate a surplus of people. but in periods of depression they add to our troubles. We need more employment for those already here.
Keywords matched
immigration