Speech #720159934

William Green. that able and sincere representative of American wage earners. appeared at Chicago before the committees charged with making the 1932 Republican and Democratic platforms. He urged broad labor planks to assure justice for those for whom he spoke. He specifically asked both parties for the protection of the workers by a clear and unequivocal declaration for the continuation of our present immigrationrestriction policy. Mr. Green said in part: The federation urges the adoption of a declaration for the continuation of our present immigration policy and the progressive application of these principles as developing conditions may indicate the need. How successful was the leader of the wage earners of America at Chicago? Let us first examine the Republican platform. The restriction of immigration is a Republican policy. We favor the continuance and strict enforcement of our present laws upon this subject. Such is the Republican pledge relative to immigration. Our partyContinues the Republican platformformulated and enacted into law the quota system. which for the first time has made possible an adequate control of foreign immigration. Rigid examination of applicants in foreign countries has prevented the coming of criminals and other undesirable classes. while other provisions of the law have enabled the President to suspend immigration of foreign wage earners who otherwise. directly or indirectly. Would have increased unemployment among the nativeborn and legally resident foreignborn wage earners in this country. As a result immigration is now less than at any time during the past 100 years. What protection do the Democratic leaders offer to American workmen against unfair and destructive competition of immigrants seeking to come to this country? Apparently the alien influence which holds the balance of political power in certain centers of population prevailed over the prayer of Mr. Green for a promise of continued protection through immigration restriction. Perhaps the influence of the Democatic chairman of the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. the gentleman from New York. Mr. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN. exceeded that of William Green and the American Federation of Labor before the Democratic resolutions committee at Chicago. In any event. the 1932 Democratic platform is entirely silent as to its intentions relative to any immigration policy. The plea of the federation for a promise to continue our restrictive immigration policy was not answered. there is a conspicuous absence of any promise or pledge on that great issue in the Democratic platform. That platform entirely ignores the subject of immigration. The leaders of the Democratic Party thus rejected William Greens plea for protection of the workers and repudiated and "forgot" American labor in their 1932 party platform. The Republican Party has always stood for a restrictive immigration policy. When the party returned to power in 1921 immigrants were entering from wartorn Europe on an average of close to 100.000 per month. A Republican Congress quickly passed. and a Republican President at once approved. our first quota restrictive immigration law. Next came the 1924 permanent restriction act. likewise enacted by a Republican Congress and approved by a Republican President. Weeding out the undesirables by examination of aliens abroad was made possible and the quota was further reduced. Then came a worldwide depression. first and worst in every other land. American consular officials reported a demand for more than 1.000.000 immigration visas in the 67 quota countries. President Hoover realized that every one of these intending immigrants was a potential wage earner and that. if admitted to the quota limit. many of them would take jobs from American workmen and that the rest would probably be dependents. President Hoover realized that the admission of immigrants could and would only tend to aggravate unemployment. He foresaw the seriousness of the situation and issued the order whereby immigration has been practically suspended. Today there is. because of the enforcement of that order. a reduction of 90.3 per cent from the number of aliens admitted three years ago. and that could and unquestionably would try to come now but for that order. On December 8. 1931. President Hoover still further expressed his views on the subject of immigration. He then recommended in his annual message to Congress that immigration restriction now in force under his administrative order "be placed upon a more definite basis by law." The Republican Party stands not only for restrictive immigration but also for strict enforcement of our deportation laws. In 1921. when the party returned to power. 4.517 aliens were deported. During the past fiscal year the administration has deported more than 20.000 lawbreaking or undesirable aliens. On immigration restriction the Democratic platform is mute. The debates in Congress on restrictive immigration bills considered in the past 11 years. contained in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. clearly show that the leaders of that party. coming from the great cities and representing foreignborn constituencies. have always opposed restrictive immigration by debate and by vote. Because of unemployment there is now more need than ever before for a continuation of our restrictiveimmigration policy. Alien competition is unfair. not only to American workmen but to every foreignborn worker in our midst. Our immigration laws and protective policy must be maintained. Nothing could be more detrimental to American wage earners than to weaken and undermine this protection. The Republican Party alone stands pledged for the rigid examination of intending immigrants abroad. debarring criminal and other unfit aliens. the deportation of alien criminals. racketeers. and undesirables. and for a continuance of restrictive immigration.