NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW 87 
san make your selection just as well then as before, but you have 
got to have something to reduce numbers first. You now have an 
automatic system which reduces the number, so they come up 
slowly and each one examined has just as much chance in the 
selection by quality tests after you have the quota, but how you 
«an ever distribute as to countries except on the quota basis I do 
not know. 
When you come to the quota basis, I think the question of the 
method of selecting it by the population of the foreign countries 
is arbitrary and has no relation to this country. 
Now, when you come to the 1890 foreign-born method, that gives 
a fairer test of the total population than the 1920 foreign born, 
that is just an arbitrary date. It was only selected as an expedient; 
and it is bound to get more arbitrary and more out of date. 
Senator Coreraxp. Is not this an arbitrary method that we are 
proposing here? 
Mr. Lewis. I do not think so. 
The Crairman. When you conclude your answer, I want to ask 
you a question as to your views generally. Do vou believe in total 
restriction? 
Mr. Lewis. I do not know, sir. A few years ago I would have 
said no. 1 would not say. I think it may be a difficult thing. 
The Cratraan. So that you would prevent any immigration at 
all to this country at the present time, if you had the power. 
Mr. Lewis. Well, IT am not ready to say that yet. I say I am 
fooking on it with a great deal more sympathy than I used to. 
‘The CrratrMaN. Your inclination is that way at present? 
Mr, Lewis. Well, T would not quite like to say that. It is a ques- 
aon I want to give very serious consideration to. I certainly do 
not feel impelled. T mean, I look on it as a question I want to give 
very serious consideration to. I certainly do not feel impelled by 
that idea, although it may be necessary. This country, seems to me— 
I have been studying it until lopsided, as some of my friends say I 
am Jopsided—a man with one idea. Maybe T am. 
The Cramyax, I want to ascertain the fact, if it is so. 
Mr. Lewrs. T think there are tremendous times of distortion in 
sur public and confusion; for instance, you take this crime situation. 
[ have read any number of articles that claimed we had passed the 
point. But Chief Justice Taft said bluntly just what I have been 
thinking, that one of our causes of crime is our diverse population. 
He is not criticizing any particular racial group; he simply means 
that the common-law system of jurisprudence is based on common 
opinion. By reason of having grown up through a long time, we 
are a people who understand each other and react in the same way. 
I do not care if we have the very best immigrants in the world, if 
they come from 40 different nations they are not going to have the 
common opinion. The old basis of the common law came out of 
-onnection with that for one reason. 
The Cuamman. That is because they retain their old sympathies, 
retain their old viewpoints, and bring to us an entirely different 
viewpoint and utterly different sympathy of situation that is at 
variance with what we are pleased to term the American viewpoint ?