306 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

The Crairman. What did your three men mean by coming here and
favoring a postponement of this?
Mr. FrrzpaTrick. The chamber has a resolution saying “we think
it inappropriate to extend the principle of the quota to Mexico.”
That was passed in 1927. There has been no subsequent resolution
passed on that subject, but the chamber has not regarded it as a closed
question.
The CuarrMaN. Then there is nothing to the Associated Press
dispatch that was sent out to the country on Saturday morning,
January 25, 1930, saying that ‘the weight of the Chamber of Commerce
 of the United States was added to the protest of the Southwest
against restriction of Western Hemisphere immigration in testimony
to-day before the House Immigration Committee’?
Mr. Fitzpatrick. The resolution of the chamber means that it
feels that the application of the quota is inappropriate to Mexico.
That press dispatch is fair enough. That is the chamber’s present
position.
The Cuairman. And that was adopted when?
Mr. Frrzeatrick. That position was taken by the chamber in
1927, and since then there has been no demand for a change in the
position of the chamber.
The Crairman. Have you taken a referendum of your various
chambers on that?
Mr. FirzraTtrick. No, sir; it was taken by resolution.
The CrairmaN. Were the various chambers of commerce throughput
 the United States consulted in regard to this matter?
Mr. Frrzratrick. We are in continouus contact with them on
that as well as other questions. So far as I know, no chamber of
commerce has written us asking a change in our position with reference
to the restriction of Mexican immigration.
The CuatrmMaN. What is the total number of chambers of commerce
 thoughout the United States allied with the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States?
Mr. Firzeatrick. The National Chamber has about 1,750 organization
 members, of which some 1,200 are chambers of commerce.
The Cuatrman.. Has it been larger or smaller?
Mr. Frrzeatrick. The number of member organizations increases
every year; 1,750 is the peak. It was less than that in 1927. probably
around 1,600.
The Cuairman. It represents a very large membership of individuals
 throughout the country?
Mr. FrrzrpaTricK. Yes, sir; it represents over three-fourths of a
million business men, I should say.
The Cuamrman. And the purpose of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States is to {eel the public pulse?
Mr. Fitzpatrick. Not the public pulse, but the business pulse.
The Cuairman. Oh, I see. It is not its job to speak for the public
as a whole. The chamber’s job is to get an expression from the business
 men as represented by the various chambers of commerce.
Mr. Frrzeatrick. If they are represented in these organization
members. The National Chamber does not represent labor or the
viewpoints of the farmer.
The CuairMaN. It only represents the public viewpoint, as the
chamber is trying to get that viewpoint through business men only.