Speech #790229210

We have been closely associated not only during the late war but ever since the SpanishAmerican War. and every American citizen prays for the progress and happiness of the people of the new Philippine Republic which will be launched on July 4. I regret that the two bills have been merged. because I am opposed to the adoption of the bill allowing a quota to India. I greatly fear that the action of the Congress in adopting this measure will set in motion a course of events which will result in striking down all of the provisions of our immigration laws relating to the admission of immigrants from Asia. We have already passed a bill allowing a quota to China. This bill was offered during the stress of war. and before it was enacted by the Congress the then President of the United States. Mr. Roosevelt. urged its adoption as an exception to our restrictive immigration laws which could properly be made as a gesture of good will to our allies in the fight against aggression. It was strongly implied that it would not be considered as a precedent for other legislation. However. we now find that the Congress has enacted the Indian bill. Bills have already been introduced to allow quotas of immigrants to Koreans and other Asiatics. We may soon expect measures of the same kind allowing the immigration of natives of Siam. French Indochina. Burma. Java. Sumatra. and of each of the other many racial groups of the Orient. If all of these bills are enacted into law. each and every one of those races will be allowed a quota of immigrants into the United States. I am afraid that we have started a process which will gradually whittle away all of the restrictions of our immigration laws. I have nothing against the Indians. and there is much to commend favorable action in allowing them to immigrate to the United States and become American citizens. but I am opposed to any weakening of our immigration laws at this time. This is particularly true in view of the precedent which this bill will set. and it will encourage all of those who wish to strike down all of our immigration laws to renew their efforts. There are well organized groups In every State of the Union who are urging legislation relaxing our immigration laws to the extent of practically eliminating quotas and other restrictions upon immigration into the United States. As chairman of the Committee on Immigration I have received hundreds of communications from such groups. If they were to present their views in one measure -to repeal all of our immigration laws and allow the unlimited movement of aliens into our country. the Congress would become alarmed. However. they are too smart for that. and they are seeking to undermine our restrictive laws by the whittling process of introducing a bill here and a bill there. each of which is plausible. but the sum total of which will destroy our present policy of restriction. It is difficult to see how the Congress. after committing itself to a measure such as the Indian bill. can oppose other bills of similar Import for each of the numerous races in Asia when they follow In its wake. Those who are seeking to strike down our immigration laws make the argument that it is a good things for all of us to increase the inflow of immigrants from abroad into this country. They say that each immigrant is a consumer. thereby increasing the domestic market and providing employment to our people to produce the products that they will consume. Under their philosophy we can only achieve the ultimate in prosperity in this country by striking down every present legal barrier to alien immigration. Under their theory. if we bring into this country the teeming millions of Europe. Asia. and Africa who are anxious to come here. and in effect pack most of the people of the world into the United States. we will have so many consumers and producers that we will then achieve the greatest measure of prosperity we have ever known. I do not subscribe to this philosophy. and I believe that we are very unwise to embark upon a policy of weakening our restrictive immigration laws at this time. The laws .have already been badly abused during the war. and should be tightened rather than relaxed. I was absent from the Senate by its leave when the calendar was called and the Indian bill was enacted. or I would have made this statement at that time. The forces back of the bill were so great that it would have been enacted despite anything that I might have said. I do. however. wish to have the RECORD show that I intend to resist any and all bills which are brought forward which tend in any degree to weaken our restrictive immigration laws. I believe that It would contribute to the wellbeing of our country and the American citizens generally if we were to tighten rather than to relax our existing laws. For myself I shall seek to strengthen and not weaken our immigration laws. and I believe that the majority of the American people are in favor of that course as opposed to the present trend to increase the number of immigrants into the United States.