Speech #740079729

The records of the 1930 Census with added figures secured from the Labor Department for subsequent years. which I stated in my earlier speech. show in round figures the following. In 1930 there was found to be about 14.204.150 persons of foreign birth residing in the United States and Territories. Many of these foreignborn residents had come here 10. 15. 20. or 30 years ago and about 9.185.950 of them had become citizens or had filed their declarations of intention to become citizensover 7.915.950 had become fully naturalized citizens and about 1.270.000 had filed their declarations of intentionso that in the census there were found here only about 6.018.200 persons of foreign birth who had not at that time become citizens or made declarations of intention to become citizens. These were the only real aliens in the United States when the 1930 census was taken. Of these. it is estimated that perhaps 248.200 have since died. and further reduction resulted by the fact that since 1930 there have been about 230.000 more foreignborn persons left the United States than there were foreignborn persons admitted into the United States. In addition the records indicate that since the 1930 census was taken. about 657.125 foreignborn persons have become citizens under some part of our naturalization laws and perhaps 882.875 have now filed their declarations of intention to become citizens. Most of these foreignborn persons are selfrelient. selfsupporting. lawabiding residents. many of them. especially those of them who are citizens or declarants. hold positions of responsibility both in private business and in government activities. . So I cannot see the logic of the arguments when you say that if we had not let these 14.204.150 foreignborn persons. who were here in 1930. come into this countryonly about 4.000.000 of whom are now actually alienswe would now have 14.000.000 jobs for American workmen who were born here.