The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-04-04
CONGRESS WILL
FIGHT QUESTION
OF Immigration
Stickler Is 1910 or 1890 Cen
sus as Basis of Quota
Law Says Johnson
LAW EXPIRES JUNE 30
More japanese Come to United
States Than Any Other Eng:
fsh-Speaking Nation

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 81
"The big fight coming in congress
next week is on the immigration
question" declared Representative
Albert Johnson, of Washington state,
chairman of the house immigration
committee in a speech which he
broadc lasted to the country last night
over the radio.
Two main points will stand out in
that fight, viz, whether we shall be
governed by the 1890 census or the
1910 census in determining the quote of
immigrants to be admitted" contin-
ued Mr.. Johnson. eff we take the
1890 census there will be admitted to
the United States 10000 persons per
year, while iif we have to adopt the
1910 census it will mean admitting
$4,000 persons annually.
Percentage TangIe
Then the other point which will
be fought will be whether the quota
shall be fixed at per cent or 8 per
cent. / have always commended that
the United States cannot be forever
an asylum for Europeans who seek to
flock here in great numbers. favor
the 2 per cent quota and the 1890
census and the majority of the house
committee feel the same way about
it, although, of course, there will be
a minority report on the matter
which will have to be threshed out
on the floor of the house. also
favor strict examination of all ap-
plicants overseas before they under
take to depart for this country.
'The present law expires on June
80 next. That is why we are pushing
for this new law to 60 into effect at
that time. If, by any chance, the
new law should not be made effective
then you will see the greatest influx
known in it's history. Such an influx
of immigrants would only be limited
to the carrying capacity Of all
steamships plying the ocean, as the
pressure is terrific to come here.
"The house committee contends
that there is sufficient labor here
now to take care of the demand for
labor by manufacturers and others in
the employment line. There has been
no shortage of labor in recent years.
At any rate our gain in population
has been large; it has amounted to
100000 in the last ten years. The
gain last year alone was over 1,500,-
900; and the last six months of last
year il amounted to over 300, 900.
And Of that number 10000 people
came into the United States through
Canada alone.
Tt,xo 40 ron uorx
MANY of our states on the u. S.
receiving end of this problem are
being bunkoed and it is time to call
halt. The great mass of immi-
grants who came into this country
after 1890 was too great to be as
simulated if individual liberty is to
endure. 1t must maintain a correct
basis.
Il claim that the 1890 law is not
discriminatory, if we are to look at
this thing in the interests of the peo-
pie of the United States and why
should we not determine who we want
and how many we want of the people
seeking admission to our country?
Persons found to be ineligible for
citizenship should not be admitted.
"The United States acquired more
japanese than any other English
speaking country in the world be-
cause of that so-called 'gentlemen's'
agreement which has not worked out
to the interests of either country.
Former President Roosevelt's mistake
ought to be rectified now. There is
no question, about that 'gentleman's'
agreement being broken by Japan.
That nation has not carried out it's
provisions at all. Japan is the only
oriental country enjoying such spe-
cial privilege and the Pacific coast
country is heartily sick and tired of
il.
Much interest in the debate next
week is predicted on account of so
much religious feeling being worked
up about it and the feeling becoming
so in tense. l think we ought to
solve this problem by asking our
selves the question: Who shall in
herit this land of our fathers?"