Speech #740150126

a. Mr. Speaker. as I understand the provisions of this bill. it provides for the suspension. of the immigration laws until full and proper inquiry can be made pending the deportation of certain men of good character who have been allowed to enter .this country. marry. and rear a family of children here. There are many close ties binding the human family which are hard and painful to sever. But the relations of man and wife. of parents. child. and children. are the most sacred of all ties which bind the human race. They are above manmade laws and take precedence over manmade regulations. I do not know the merits of the claims of these husbands and fathers of children. but. regardless of the merits of claims. these men have been allowed to enter this country. they have been allowed to marry here and bring children into the world here and assume the sacred obligations of fathers and breadwinners. The United States Labor Department and labor leaders in Congress. always more adverse to immigration than other departinents and other classes. have requested the enforcement of these laws be suspended until full inquiry can be made before the separation of these men from their families. The strict letter of the law is never held to be the unyielding law. Equity. justice. is always held higher than the law. and is always invoked by the court to relieve from the strict letter of the law. If equity can be made to intervene to save and salvage mere property rights. equity can be made to intervene to save the sacred relations of father and child. The courts and the immigration bureaus should be assured of the facts and circumstances before these fathers are torn frol4 their children and sent back across the seas to leave thei wives and children here a public charge upon the relief rollsj History shows the strict letter of the law is alwa .s appealed to by men to be enforced against others and n .ver against family. friend. or self. The strict letter of the law is always for the other fellow. The belief in a literal hades is still maintained by some men.