NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW 89
My. Lewis. I do not know. My people have been here so long that
{ do not know. I was talking here with a gentleman from the Amer-«can
Legion just before we started, and he said that he thinks he and
Admiral Barry are connected about eight generations back, and
probably English or Welsh.
"Senator Kine. As you are of Welsh origin, I congratulate you, because
they are a most brilliant people.
Mr. Lewis. I am Welsh and English.
Senator King. I was going to ask you, assuming you are Welsh,
1o you think that the addition to our country of your fathers’ Welsh
blood was a disadvantage to our unity and to our cultural and political
unity, our cultural development and political development?
Mr. Lewrs. I do not know,
Senator King. Could you say that of the Germans, English, or
Irish?
Mr. Lewis. I can not say that of any individual or group of individuals.
I am not going to leave the committee in doubt. I do not
want to criticize any race. Their bloods are good, and the people are
good. and you select your individuals—I simply say that a nation’s
success—I do not want to get back on this, because I think the whole
~ommittee is agreed on restrictions—the Nation’s success depends
upon people being a unity, having a common opinion as a basis for
law and population. I do not care how good the people are or what
race they come from. I say introduce too many newcomers, so that in
50 years your population is largely new, you are going to upset your
political base.
The Cuammax. I am not clear what you mean by “unity ” of these
people—unity of what?
Senator Kine (interposing). You do not mean unity of religion,
("atholics, for instance, do you?
Mr. Lewis. Oh, no.
Senator King. Mere political views or economic views?
Mr. Lewis. No; but General Pershing put it pretty well in a
speech he made in 1921 or 1922. He said “We have no objection to
a man of foreign birth or stock who cherishes the love of folk lore.
of music, of better traditions, of his native country, or country of
origin, but we do object to a man of foreign birth or stock who
attempts to decide American questions for foreign reasons.” That is
what I mean by “unity ”—unity of reasoning; and I think we have
had plenty of evidence of it for the last 12 years in the United States.
‘The CmairMaN. I think that we will all agree to that. It is a
wholly undesirable idea to introduce into this country any group or
any race, whether they be international bankers or whether they be
the poorest immigrants from Italy. who decide questions for us on
European ideas. And that is what vou mean bv “unitv??
Mr. Lewis. Yes, sir.
The (‘mairMAN. Let me ask you one other question: Do you believe
in immigration of those who are ineligible for citizenshin?
Mr. Lewis. Why, no; I don’t know———oo
Senator Reep. People such as the Chinese, Siamese, Malays?
Mr. Liewrs. I think that the Chinese and Japanese restrictions are
absolutely essential to our safety.
The Crairman. You do believe. then. in the restriction of those
ineligible for citizenship?
