Speech #780072169

A few days ago a bill came up to waive the declaration of intention for fathers and mothers of boys serving honorably in our armed forces. Now the gentleman from Mississippi is forever talking about his interest in the boys in the armed forces. but when he could have made a concrete effort to help some of them in supporting this bill introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey he did not do so. As a matter of fact. the old familiar cry was raised that the country would be flooded with immigrants. Mind you. this argument on a bill which had nothing to do with immigration. which would not have permitted one single person to enter this country. The rule was talked to death without even taking up the bill. The gentleman from New York today said that we are the people. we represent the people. and we ought to decide these questions before the full body. but you did not give us a chance under thatvery doctrine that you are preaching before the full body. A full discussion on the bill was not made possible because the rule was voted down. You refused to vote out the rule to give the committee the opportunity to discuss the merits of this legislation. No matter how you look upon itprejudice reigns supreme when legislation from the Immigration and Naturalization Committee is brought up. I remember full well that the very men who opposed every piece of immigration legislation are the very men also who voted against the resolution in 1942 to give the committee the right to study this question. I have the RECORD here. Mr.