The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-05
RESTRICTION BILL WAS GREAT NEED UNDERWOOD SAYS
Senator Outlines History Of Immigration To
 Exchange Club

Recent passage of the immigration 1 restriction bill by congress was de 1 scribed as milepost in national history l by Senator Oscar w. Underwood Monday noon, while addressing members of the Exchange club at their weekly luncheon. Senator Underwood outlined the prog ress of immigration laws since the revo- lutionary period, when, he said, an in- crease of population was the greatest need of the country. He followed the subject through the period when west ern lands were being opened to home steaders, and pointed out the conditions that made restriction necessary.
 Passage of the exclusion act was a milepost in national history" Senator Underwood declared. 'The United States has taken far different position on the immigration question now than 1t did in the days of our forefathers. During the revolutionary period, the country needed population more than anything else. Most of the increase came from immigrants from northern Europe, and they have become assimilated with ear Her settlers and have definitely been &C., cepted into our national life.
 Went To West
 up to the year 1880 we had an un- developed west, and when we opened the doors of our country to the immigrants, they went to these free lands. We of- fered lands under the homestead laws, and they quickly became settled. But after the year 1880 practically all the homestead lands were used up. Of course, we still have few, but they are barren and do not appeal to pros pectiye home-builders.
 "Following this period of immigra- tion, we went through political period, :. when arguments were current regarding the doors of the country should be closed, left open, or merely partially closed. In 1906 introduced bill call ing for educational tests for all immi- grants. This bill passed the house and was defeated in the senate.
 Some years later, however, simi- lar bill was passed by both divisions of congress. The idea of the act was that when an immigrant could read and write some language, even his own, he had reached a stage of intellectual at- tainment that would fit him to become . a higher grade of citizen, and would insure higher standPrd for the entire country.
 Much Good Done
 "This act did great deal of good, but it failed to accomplish all that might be desired in the way of admitting only the better class of immigrants. A temporary law after the war stopped immigration to some extent. Last win ter, as the temporary act expired in June, congress again considered the mat ter.
 At this time a permanent bill was passed, and the present exclusion bill was adopted, and is now a part of the law of the land. I'm not presenting this bill as contested question, for the overwhelming majority that the bill re- ceived in both houses shows clearly that 1t was a desired measure.
 This law, as passed, has limited the nsnber of immigrants on the basis of those already in the country and the number admitted during specified period. 1t Is exclusive in effect to Flu ropean and Asiatic countries, but does not mention Canada on the north and Central America on the south. It does allow small percentage of immigrants probably 150,O00 per year.
 "A number of other restrictions also are placed on immigrants and when all are complied with, the number that ac- tualiy IS admitted each year dwindles to about 100000. The immigrants that come to the United States present a problem to all Americans.
 First Duty At Home
 Our first duty is at home. Our fore most efforts must be directed to the ben eft of our citizenship, and the first problem with that is to build a citizen ship of high ideals and plan of life that is as high as it is possible to build. In other words, the standard of United States citigenship long has led the world, and it is our duty to main tain this standard.
 There is another angle of the immi- grafton question that we must consider. We must assimilate these immigrants. Their children must go to school with our children and their families must mingle with our families. If they do not become a part of our national life, we are setting them aside as a danger and a menace to our ideals and standards of citizenship.
 s'We have been so congested in our large centers of population by the crowded conditions that we were near Ing the danger point. The foreigners in these centers were not becoming assim- Hated as were they in the west They were setting up their own colonies and leading their own lives.
 And so this country has restricted their entrance, and established a mile. stone in the countrys history"
 Col. T. S. MoOrman spoke briefly or defense day at the luncheon. He de tended the plan, and termed it one oi the greatest step for permanent peace that ever has been attempted Co-opera tion of all members of the club and al Birmingham citizens was asked