The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1951-03-21
Mechanics Order Finds No Objection
To Lifting Race in New Omnibus Bills

tiOtl dlAu HdluIdll1dlioil-fld DeeIl
expressed, according to the JACL
Anti-Discrimination Committee to-
day.
The National Council, Junior Or
der of United American Mechanics
fraternal order with long record
of hostility to immigration, testified
1t could find mo objection" to lift
ing race barriers in immigration and
naturalization.
Charles E. Babcock, national le-
gislative agent for the order. after a
direct inquiry from Rep. Francis E
Walter D.,Pa), said the UAM saw
mo objection to aliens having a per-
mansnt right of residence to be-
come naturalized"
I'm fact" he added, lit doesn't
seem right that such people as the
japanese who have been here long
time are prohibited from becoming
citizens. Some of them are even
grandparents and they can't be-
come naturalized. If they have been
here a long time they certainly
ought to have the right to vote and
become citizens
Babcock agreed with Rep. Walter
that if this country felt it would i'm
prove international relations to lift
race bars on immigration, his orga-
nization would mot find it unsatis-
factory if the 100 quota maximum
is kept in effect for Asian nations"
Two years ago the UAM opposed
the JACL ADC-sponsored Judd Bill
which provided for racial equality
in immigration and naturalization
Babcock suggested the UAM gen.
orally favored reducing overall i'm
migration quotas to maximum OF
$4,000 a year, or slightly less than
half of the present quotas.
Amerigo D'Agostino, legislative re-
preventative for the Columbian CT
vic Club of New Jersey and Nation
al Unico Clubs of America, urged the
adoption of provision found only
in the Celler omnibus bill which
would divide the unused quotas in
any year, up to maximum Of 1000,
between all quota countries the fol-
lowing year.
Under our quota law he testi-
fled, "2.616,000 immigrants were ad-
missable between 1890 and 1916. Yet
only 100000 actually we're admitted, =
he said, adding.
This has emphasized the national
origin of immigrants to the virtual
exclusion of economic considerations
and has cut off all types OF voca-
tional and skilled labor so desperate
ly needed.
The more liberal (Celler) immi-
grafton policy is imperative today.
Our policy is indefinable because
it sets up variance between diff
ferent groups of people and misin-
terprets American history, enrich
ed as it has been by the contribu-
tions of people from Southern Eu-
rope.
Under the cloak of governmental
policy we have permitted 'nativist
enemies in our nation to enunciate
and promulgate an unscientific and
dangerous racial doctrine that Is al
its roots subversive and undemocra-
tic"
D'Agostino urged amending the
omnibus bills to prevent loss of CT
tizenship where an American ma
tional is impressed into a foreign
military service, and to confine loss
of citizenship for voting in foreign
election to those elections which are
national in nature.
Stuart G. Upton, general counsel
Air Transport Association of Anne
RIGA, brought up the problems faceo
by air transportation trying to fiji
its pattern of operations into the
maze of regulations and laws de-
signed for ship transportation.
Much effort has been devoted di-
rectly to the elimination of unneed-
ed border crossing technicalitie:
imposed by the immigration laws o.
the world" he said. IF the United
States establishes a burdensomt
practice. it serves as precedent Il
be followed by other nations, anC
therefore the elimination of U. S
tape can have worldwide benefit
cial effects.
This is the first occasion OF
which the Congress has ever consi
dered the immigration laws as the.
apply to air transportation. Man,
present provisions of the immigra
ton laws do not fit the needs of al
carriers" he testified.
Charles r. Carroll of the Nation
al Foreign Trade Council urged tina
Congress continue to grant the RICH
of entry into this country of non
immigrant aliens employed in ad
ministrative capacities by foreign
, owned or operated firms. Man
countries grant such a right to A