Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-30
IMMIGRATION HELD
VITAL TO DEFENSE
Reed Tells Women'S Patriotic
Conference Adherence to
Quotas Is Necessary.

mittee, told the Women's Patriotic Con-
ference on National Defense today that
adherence to the existing quota system
under the immigration law is as i'm
portant to national preparedness as the
Army or Navy.
There is not much difference be-
tween throngs of aliens coming here in
troop ships armed with guns he
warned, "and in throngs of aliens COM
ing here peacefully in Steerage to make
this their home
Senator Reed, declaring 1t Is neces-
Sary to keep America for Americans
said it was not because We think we
are better than the aliens clamoring for
admission, but that they do not fit into
our scheme Of things"
From another view OF natural pre-
parednesS. the presidents and dele
gates of the So women's societies and
organizations attending the conference
in Memorial Continental Hall heard
Col C. B. Robbins Assistant Secretary
of War, explain that mobilization plans
Of the United States Army called for
4.075 1920 officers and men for six
field armies. He also told the con-
| ference that its support could be of
great benefit in carrying out the work
of national defense.
Standing Army Never Large.
"There are at the present time 81 in
fantry divisions and six cavalry divi-
sions in the organized reserves" Col.
Robbins said, land the reserve corps
under the present mobilization plan,
is based on six field armies, which calls
for a total of TAI, 229 reserve officers.
1.-The latest estimaes show the num-
Der to be modified to fill the six field
Armies to be as follows: Enlisted men,
3,828,875: officers, Regular Army,
27,l03; National Guard, 22,447; Or
gained Reserves, 141, 229; requirements,
$685."
Col Robbins said the United States
never had nor is it likely to have q
large standing Army. placing its re-
lance upon the willingness of suf-
ficient number of its citizens to enter
the military service in time of emer-
gency.
Detailing the growth and purpose of
the National Guard, the Officers Re-
Serve Corps, the Reserve officers Train
ing Corps and the Citizens Military
Training Camps. Col. Robbins said
these civilian componentS of the Army
would become the great reliance of the
Nation in future emergency.
The fact that so many thousands
have willingly taken on these duties, he
| said, that they may fit themselves for
the grim business of war; is one of the
finest indications that the heart Of the
Nation is sound and that the continuous
efforts Of the pacifiStS and information
alists to destroy our national defense
are without avail"
| Quota Change Is Opposed.
| Senator Reed, who dealt solely with
| the immigration issue, warned against
the danger of foreign elements whit
! Ting away" at the quota system and
| vigorously opposed any other quota
| standard than that based on the 1890
census. That basis, he declared, is
the heart and essence of the immigra-
ton law" and so long as it remains in
tact 1.-The United States will still be
speaking English
Asked by woman delegate If adj
mission quotas could not be determined
on basis of fitness" Senator Reed
| replied that to do so would open the
gates to every alien who had political
pull" Every politician on occasion, he
said, is "a coward" and the finest
flower of this collection blooms around
election time"
Mrs. Florence P. Kahn, Representa-
| tive from California on the House mill
tary affairs committee, which her late
husband served so long as chairman
made a plea for national defense and
| assured the patriotic organizations that
| they could f1atter themselves with hav-
| Ing had something to do with the favor
able reaction that now makes it pos
| Sible to pass the cruiser bill.
She outlined the national defense act
| declaring lit is not an old world sys-
1 fem American
She raised enthusiasm when she
| pointed out that while this. Govern
ment's policy has always been to get
IN war first and prepare later, mot
being ready has never prevented our
! getting into it."
I Mrs. Alfred j. Brosseau, president
| general of the Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution, who is vice chairman
of the conference, presided today.
Delegation Received by Coolidge.
At 1890 o'clock, the entire delegation
went to the White House. where they
were received by President Coolidge and
photographed with him.
Among the speakers scheduled this
afternoon were F. Trubee Dawson, As
sistant Secretary of War for Aviation,
on Air Defense; Gen. Albert L. Cox
chairman of the national defense COM
mittee of the American Legion; Rear
Admiral Robert E. CoontZ, retired, Mrs
William Sherman Walker, chairman of
F.. the D. A. r.. national defense commit
tee, and Mrs. O. d. Oliphant, chairman
| of the national defense committee Of
the American Legion Auxiliary.
The conference opened with a full
attendance last night in Memorial
Continental Hall, where Mrs. Alfred j.
Brosseau, president general Of the Ma
tional Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, welcomed the
presidents and delegates of the 80
women's societies and organizations.
| THAT America has twice led the way
toward peace is a justifiable cause for
exultation," Mrs. Brosseau declared.
for at all times should our sense of
race and our national pride create in
us the desire to have our country al
ways in the front ranks of leadership
But so long as other nations deem pro-
/ lection necessary there is no reason why
| this country should not exercise the
same juStifiable precaution in regard to
all that which it claims as its own"
That an adequate Navy is the best
peace insurance, despite the ratification
| Of the anti-war pact, was the general
theme of speakers at the opening con-
| ference, which included Senator Steiwer
of oregon, National Commander Paul
". McNutt of the American Legion, and
Mrs. Boyce Ficklen, jr., chairman of the
conference and national president of
the American Legion Auxiliary, of In
dianapolis, Ind.
Senator Steiwer declared that the
United States already has made great
sacrifices in naval ornaments neces-
sary for its security and that it needs
fast cruisers for the protection of
our merchant shipping and for every
other purpose away from that OF the
battle fleet"
Instead of being an instrument of
war, he pointed out, the cruiser bill,
because of its suspension clause, is