National origins provision of immigration law

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1796380105

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-196168

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: National origins provision of immigration law

Place of publication:: Washington

Publisher:: Gov. Pr. Off.

Year of publication:: 1929

Scope:: III, 171 S

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Statement of Edward R. lewis, chairman executive committee, Immigration Restriction Legislation, Chicago, Ill.

Collection:: Economics Books

20 NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW Mr. Lewis. Oh, yes; absolutely. Senator Reep. Does not that illustrate your point about the diffi- culty of fusion? If we were to introduce 10,000,000 Chinese into this country within the space of a few years, would it not make our governmental problems manv times more difficult than they now are? Mr. Lewrs. Yes, sir; I think it would make it very many times more difficult. The Caamrman. You have made a study of this, and a very deep study of this, Mr. Lewis, that is, of the question of immigration gen- arally, have you not? Mr. Lewis. I do not know; I have been at it a long while. The Cramrman, Have you done it in connection with racial groups in the city of Chicago? Mr. Lewis. Well, not directly; no, sir. The Cuamman. Could you give any personal observations as to what you have learned so far as the second generation is concerned’ Mr. Lewis. 1 would not care to do that: I do not think I am comn- petent. The Crarrman. I live in the Italian quarter of San Francisco. 1 have been intensely interested in observing those in the quarter in which I live. The second generation have become a part of us, and a part of us quite thoroughly, and many of them are among the very best citizens we have in San Francisco; and 1 am curiously wonder- ing if that same sort of thing obtained in the city where vou have made your studies and observations, or not. Mr. Lewis. Now, unfortunately or fortunately, in some ways, as to answering your question, I live outside of Chicago in a suburb which does not give that test and I think it is very difficult to general- ize even from one’s own experience, because sometimes I think that my method of going at it is a little more accurate than that of a per- son who does it from his own observation. I have the utmost respect and admiration for many of our settle- ment-house workers; distinguished people like Miss Addams, for example. But it seems to me they all get too close a view so they are not able to see in the terms of millions. They see the lovable and the beautiful characters in the settlement houses. God forbid I should say a word to diminish the respect and admiration for those people. [ am talking about mass results of the thing; about millions of people coming in. I do not care how good they are. 1 know that if 10,000, 000 of the very best Americans went to France or to Italy, we would upset their social order and their politics, and there would be some- body going around in Italy, some good politician, looking for the American vote or one who would go around and talk for the Ameri- cans over there; and it would just upset their politics so they would bitterly regret the day that happened. I do not care if it were 10,000,000 of the best people we have—- The Cuairman. Are you speaking of the political aspects in the views you express? Mr. Lewis. I think of it politically, socially, and legally. I think that a too big intrusion or infusion of foreign people is going to upset the social order of any country. It takes a long time in any country to make institutions, it takes a long time for law to grow. and a long time for politics to grow it

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