Speech #830100174

I believe the bill which has been proposed by the majority of the Committee on the Judiciary is a satisfactory measure to accomplish both a humane objective. which is typically American in tradition and concept. and to make a practical contribution to the peace of the world. Mr. President. years ago Immigrants from all countries of the world blazed trails across what was then a wilderness in this great Nation and established homes and communities. Those communities grew into what became Territories. and. later into States of this Union. For 150 years that process has been going on. Immigrants built the United States into the type of country in which you. Mr. President. and I have been privileged to be born. It was the immigrant from every section of the world that largely gave to this Nation its productivity. whether it be in agriculture. industry. or in the professional field. Mr. President. there are very few of us in this Chamber who are not the offspring of immigrants. My father and mother came from Norway. They homesteaded on the vast prairies of the West and brought 11 children into the world. I know they came to America with many other young couples. and they never ceased to sing the praises of the United States of America for the opportunities it afforded them as immigrants. It has been my privilege in the past 2 years to see immigrants come to this land under the Displaced Persons Act. I have seen parents with their children making their way in various communities of the Nation. and contributing as other immigrants in years past have done. to the upbuilding of America. Those children will grow into fine manhood and womanhood. as those who preceded them have done. I have seen immigrants who could hardly speak a word of English. but in a matter of a couple of years they learned to master the language sufficiently so that they could converse in the neighborhood and in the community centers in which they were privileged to reside. I have seen displaced persons in various churches in this land. worshiping there with other citizens. and making their contribution to the welfare of the Nation. Oh.