NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW 143
Senator Reep. Then your position is that the action of the Legion
convention was wrong }
Representative McCormack. The action of the representative as
expressed, and naturally he follows out the action of the Legion
convention, in my opinion, does not represent the rank and file of
the American Legion.
Senator Rerp. What source of information have you about the
rank and file attitude of the American Legion?
Representative McCormack. I know that this is not a sectional
matter. This question does not confine itself to any one area of our
country; it concerns the people in every State of the Union.
Senator REeep. Yes; and there were representatives at that con-
vention from every State of the Union, were there not?
Representative McCorsrack. While I have never attended a con-
vention, the primary matter of interest in the convention is the elec-
tion of its officers.
Senator Reep. You think they are not interested in national prob-
lems ¢
Representative McCormack. Probably my remark needs a little
further explanation. I do not want to say the primary matter of
interest in the convention is the election of officers. I will explain
that so it will be interpreted correctly. The primary duty from a
practical angle which shapes up in the minds of the delegates, or a
good portion of them, is the lining up of State organizations and
Jelegations behind this or that man for national commander and
other offices, and many times in the activity of that work platforms
are adopted without a profound understanding.
Here is something you gentlemen have been considering for
years, and yet in this committee and in the House committee men
actuated by the high desire of rendering public service as their
conscience dictates differ; and yet you are seeking more information.
You want something more. You are seeking light. You want it,
and you welcome people coming before you in order to get a thought.
The gentleman who just spoke before gave me a thought when he
said, “ Would you as a business man look upon the 1790 census as
a basis for determining origins?”
Senator Harris, Will you allow me to ask you a question?
Representative McCormack. Yes, sir.
Senator Harris. What is more important or what is anything like
as important as a meeting of the American Legion, when this ques-
tion was before Congress, in view of the record that the Senator
from Pennsylvania just told you of, the number that claimed exemp-
tion during the war, it seems to me there was nothing more vital
to the men who fought and the men who are going to fight than
just the information showing the number that claimed exemption?
Representative McCormack. All right.
Senator Harris. What we would just like to know is what was
more important for the American Legion to decide than that?
Representative McCormack. In presenting those facts they should
also present the fact as to the number of American citizens who
claimed exemptions. In following that out they should cold-blood-
edly, if they wanted to advance that as an argument, state how many
