Speech #720027199

May I say this to the Senator with reference to this section as thus construed: The Senator probably knows my views on immigration. In so far as I am concerned. if I could. I would strengthen the laws and reduce the number of immigrants into this country. particularly during times of depression. I am in sympathy with the object of the Senator in the passage of this bill. It is true that we do say that Chinese and persons of certain other Asiatic races can not become citizens. but I am wondering if the Senator thinks we should go to. the extent indirectly of legislating in such a way that a Chinaman would be prohibited from being employed on a boat of any other country if that boat intended to come to a port of this country. If it is merely a question of prohibiting the immigration into this country of the Chinese or any other group. I am strongly for the idea. but. somehow. I can not believe that it would be morally justifiable on our part to pass a law which would say to a Chinaman. because he is a Chinaman. that he could not be employed on a Swedish boat which might land in America. and yet an Englishman or a Frenchman or a native of some other country could be employed on that boat. I am wondering if it would not invite. and justly invite. some kind of retaliatory legislation which would prevent an American from getting a job on some other boat. Personally. I should be very glad if the Senator would consent to some kind of amendment to the measure. if it is at all in line with his idea. which would not place us in the attitude of putting up an impassible barrier against a Chinaman or an Asiatic who wants to work getting a job on some foreign boat. If it gets down to the question of his landing. that is a different proposition. but. as strongly as I am opposed to foreign immigration. I do not believe I could get my consent to vote for a bill containing a stipulation that might prevent a man. simply because he belongs to a particular race. from working under the sovereignty of another nation on boats which are under the sovereignty of another nation. I have not understood from the Senators remarks heretofore that he wanted his bill to go to that extent.