Speech #780122604

Mr. President. unfortunately. I was not in the Chamber during the entire period consumed by the very able Senator from Florida in discussing the repcal of the Chinese Exclusion Acts. I am sorry I was not present. because I have a very great affection for the Senator from Florida. and I regret exceedingly that at this hour I find myself in opposition to his ideas in reference to the repeal of those acts. Since I first came to the Senate I have opposed all immigration inuo this country. and vigorously did so during those years when we had anywhere from 10.000.000 to 15.000.000 people out of employment. I oppose any change in our immigration laws at the present time. because I recognize. with Mr. William Green. president of- the American Federation of Labor. that after the termination of this war we shall have millions of Americans on the streets looking for jobs. I happen to be for Americans first. I happenperhaps unfortunately in the eyes of someto be one of those who are more interested in the welfare of nativeborn and naturalized citizens than that of others. I believe that every American job should be held by an American citizen. whether he be a nativeborn citizen or a naturalized citizen. I draw no line of distinction whatsoever between those who are born upon American soil and those who come here from other countries and later become American citizens. Some of the ablest Members of this body were born on foreign shores. and over the years they have been among our most outstanding Members. Mr. President. the bill before -us at the present time. designated as House bill 3070. is for the purpose of repealing the Chinese Exclusion Acts. to establish quotas. and for other purposes. I read from the report one paragraph thereof entitled "Purpose of the Bill": The legislation proposed in this bill is for the purpose of repealing the Chinese exclusion laws. to place Chinese persons on a small quota basis. and to make persons of the Chinese race eligible to become naturalized United States citizens. Mr. President. if I may be permitted to repeat. I vigorously oppose any change in our immigration laws. because I recognize that at the present time we have more than seven million soldiers. sailors. and men of the air in uniform in this country and on 72 fighting fronts throughout the world. Those men are fighting for the life of America. They are fighting for the preservatiop of the American way of life. as we have heretofore known it.