Mr. SABATH. Anything on the injunction? Mr. PATTEN. Yes, sir; according to the proceedings a number of other resolutions were adopted. Mr. SABATH. Can you produce all the other resolutions that have been passed and read them? Mr. PATTEN. I think they are all in the proceedings. I have here a number of resolutions passed by state legislatures, farmers' unions, patriotic societies, boards of charities, congresses, etc., which show the attitude of the public and the universal interest in the question, and which, if it would please the committee, I would be glad to leave for incorporation in the hearing as showing a decided and widespread demand for restrictive legislation. (The resolutions referred to by Mr. Patten follow.) JOINT RESOLUTION PETITIONING OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS TO ENACT MORE STRINGENT IMMIGRATION LAWS. Whereas the dumping of a million immigrants into the United States annually is a fact for which the world offers no precedent and is a menace to American institutions, the American home, and the American laborer; and Whereas there are now many bills before the Congress of the United States for the better regulation of immigration and the revision of the tariff; and Whereas the regulation of foreign immigration is a necessary supplement to the tariff, an essential element in the protection of America from ruinous competition by cheap labor at home, ruinous in our endeavor to establish an American industrial democracy; and Whereas a protective tariff, without proper immigration regulation, is a travesty on the industrial problem, Therefore, Be it resolved by the general assembly of the State of Ohio, That we respectfully ask our Senators and Representatives in Congress to enact more stringent immigration laws to protect our people, both native-born and naturalized, against wholesale immigration from foreign lands. GRANVILLE W. MOONEY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Adopted March 12, 1909. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OHIO, Office of the Secretary of State. I, Carmi A. Thompson, secretary of state of the State of Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing is an exemplified copy, carefully compared by me with the original rolls now on file in this office, and in my official custody as secretary of state, as required by the laws of the State of Ohio, of a joint resolution adopted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio on the 12th day of March, A. D. 1909. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal, at Columbus, this 15th day of April, A. D. 1909. [SEAL.] CARMI A. THOMPSON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, This is to certify that the following is a true and correct copy of a resolution passed the above date: "Whereas the dumping of a million immigrants into the United States annually is a fact for which the world offers no precedent and is a menace to American institutions, the American home, and the American laborer; and "Whereas there are now many bills before the Congress of the United States for the better regulation of immigration and the revision of the tariff; and "Whereas the regulation of foreign immigration is a necessary supplement to the tariff, an essential element in the protection of America from ruinous competition by cheap labor at home, ruinous in our endeavor to establish an American industrial democracy; and "Whereas a protective tariff, without proper immigration regulation, is a travesty on the industrial problem: Therefore be it "Resolved by the house of representatives of the State of Pennsylvania, That we respectfully request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to enact more stringent immigration laws to protect our people, both native born and naturalized, against wholesale immigration from foreign lands." THOMAS H. GARVIN, Chief Clerk House of Representatives. JOINT RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE IN EVERY POSSIBLE MANNER THE INFLUX INTO VIRGINIA OF IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE. Resolved by the senate of Virginia (the house of delegates concurring), That our Representatives in both Houses of Congress be, and they are hereby, requested to oppose in every possible manner the influx into Virginia of immigrants from southern Europe, with their Mafia and Black Hand and murder societies, and with no characteristics to make them with us a homogeneous people, believing as we do that upon Anglo-Saxon supremacy depends the future welfare and prosperity of this Commonwealth, and we view with alarm any effort that may tend to corrupt its citizenship. Agreed to by general assembly of Virginia February 14, 1908. JNO. W. WILLIAMS, Clerk House of Delegates and Keeper of Records of Virginia. Whereas much of the greatness of the United States is due to the energetic, industrious, and patriotic immigration which came to this country during the past century; and Whereas a strict execution of the present laws makes it possible to keep out the worst of the pauper and diseased elements of our present European and Asiatic immigration, but these laws admit large numbers of immigrants who are generally undedesirable because unintelligent, of low vitality, of poor physique, able to perform only the cheapest kind of manual labor, tending to become a burden upon our large cities, and not available for supplying the need for agricultural laborers; and Whereas the coming of these undesirable aliens tends not only to lower the standards of American citizenship but also to prevent the coming of immigrants who would be valuable workers in the country districts and who would readily assimilate with our population: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' National Congress urges upon the Senators and Representatives of the United States the importance of further judicious regulations of immigration, and in particular demands the enactment of a law raising the present head tax upon immigrants to at least $10, and excluding absolutely immigrants of poor physique and those who are unable to read in some language. Adopted September 14, 1905, at Richmond, Va., by the Farmers' National Congress. Whereas the United States Immigration Commission, after a three years' investigation, reports that "many undesirable aliens enter this country every year," and Jecommends legislation along the lines of our previous resolutions: Therefore, Resolved, That we again urge upon our Senators and Representatives the judicious restriction of foreign immigration by means of an increased head tax, a money test, a rigid physical and mental test, an illiteracy test, and especially the fining of the steamship companies $500 for every rejected alien brought to this country whose condition could have been learned at the time of purchasing passage; and be it further Resolved, That in view of congressional action this session, we direct our officials, and particularly our legislative agent, to further in every possible way the object and purpose of these and previous resolutions. Adopted November 7, 1909, at Raleigh, N. C., by the Farmers' National Congress. Whereas it is proposed to distribute and divert foreign immigrants to the agricultural districts of the South and West; and Whereas a federal bureau has been established and state immigration bureaus are proposed for that purpose; and Whereas we are unalterably opposed to such and to the present enormous alien influx as detrimental to the best interests of the farming communities and the welfare of our whole country: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, in national rally assembled at Memphis, Tenn., this 8th day of January, 1908, and representing 2,000,000 farmers, urge upon Congress the immediate abolition of the federal bureau of distribution and the speedy enactment of laws substantially excluding the present enormous alien influx by means of an increased head tax, a money requirement, the illiteracy test, and other measures; and that we call upon our public, and especially our state, officials to prevent the agricultural section from becoming a dumping ground for foreign immigration. J. T. DICKEY (Ga.) Whereas, foreign immigration is being advocated for southern and western farming communities, a United States immigration commission is investigating the subject, and a federal bureau is being established for the purpose of distributing and diverting foreigners; and Whereas the present flagrant lax enforcement of existing immigration laws and the urgent need of additional restrictive legislation will soon result in the agricultural sections of the South and West being made a dumping ground for undesirable southeast European and Asiatic populations: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, in its fourth annual convention at Fort Worth, Tex., this 3d day of September, 1908, and representing over two millions of farmers, hereby adopts the immigration resolutions passed last January at the annual rally in Memphis, calling for federal and state legislation abolishing immigration bureaus and substantially excluding the present alien influx from southeast Europe and western Asia, and urge upon our federal officials the vigorous enforcement of all immigration laws in order to properly protect the country's welfare and to preserve its institutions, safeguard its citizenship, and preserve its Anglo-Saxon civilization for posterity; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to each Member of Congress by the chairman of the national legislative committee with the request that they be printed in the Congressional Record and to the Immigration Commission with the request that they be incorporated in its report; and be it further Resolved, That the state presidents and lecturers emphasize this one question with a view to having members take it up in conference and by letter with their Congressmen and Senators. Whereas the United States Immigration Commission will report to the next session of Congress, recommending legislation; and Whereas we are unalterably opposed to the present foreign influx from southeast Europe and western Asia, its proposed distribution and diversion to the South and West, and have in local, state, and national convention resolved in favor of the enactment and vigorous enforcement of rigidly restrictive immigration laws: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America in fifth annual convention assembled at Birmigham, Ala., this 9th day of September, 1909, representing over 2,000,000 of farmers, reiterate and reaffirm the immigration resolutions adopted unanimously at Memphis, January 8, and at Fort Worth, September 3, 1908, calling upon our state and particularly our federal officials to exclude the present foreign influx by means of an increased head tax, a money test, the illiteracy test, and other effective measures; and be it further Resolved, That the national legislative committee send copies of this and previous resolutions to the President for his annual message, to the immigration commission for its report, and to the Senate and House Immigration Committees for legislation, and do all it possibly can to secure legislation along the lines of this and previous resolutions; and be it still further Resolved, That the national secretary send copies of this resolution and previous ones to the various state secretaries with the request that the matter be taken up by locals with their Senators and Congressmen with a view to congressional action. Whereas the foreign steamship companies are bringing to this country the less desirable classes of foreigners, even the best of whom come single handed and alone, to soon return to their native lands with their parsimonious hoardings, thus causing race suicide, intensifying financial panics, undermining our standards, and menacing our institutions and ideals; and Whereas our public lands are exhausted, city congestion is becoming intolerable, thousands of our citizens, native and naturalized, with each industrial reaction are being increasingly crowded across the Canadian and Mexican borders, and our own are being subjected to ruinous competition and frequently being driven as delinquents or dependents into our public institutions; and Whereas the Federal Government is being urged to find employment for and even to provide transportation for aliens, exclusively, to interior points, while our own. native or naturalized unemployed are left to shift for themselves; and Whereas a rigorous enforcement of our existing feeble immigration laws is imperative for the prevention of this country being made a dump for the inmates of foreign public institutions: Therefore be it Resolved, by the National Council, Order United American Mechanics, in its sixty-third annual session, this 24th day of August, 1909, at Providence, R. I., that we urge upon Congress the enactment of additional legislation, strengthening existing laws and further restricting foreign immigration by means of an increased head tax, a money test, the exclusion of alien adults unable to read in a European language or dialect, the fining of the foreign steamship companies for bringing here deportable immigrants, and such other measures as will exclude the present influx of foreign undesirables, protect the country's welfare, preserve its institutions, and maintain its present high ideals; and be it further Resolved, That an immigration legislative committee be appointed by the national councillor to represent the order and further the object and purposes of this resolution; and be it further Resolved, That we urge our national, state, and local secretaries to emphasize this question with a view to having local councils pass resolutions and take the matter up with their Congressmen and Senators at the next session of Congress, when the commission reports and legislation is pending at Washington; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent by the national secretary to the Immigration Commission, the President, and to the members of the Senate and House Immigration Committees; and be it further Resolved, That we heartily commend the patriotic efforts of the present commissioner of immigration at Ellis Island to properly enforce the law. RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT TAMPA, FLA., FEBRUARY 13, 1908, BY THE IMMIGRATION CONVENTION, COMPOSED of delegates FROM OTHER STATES, REPRESENTING ORGANIZED LABOR, ASSOCIATIONS, PRIVATE CORPORATIONS OR INTERESTS, AND RAILROADS. Resolved, That the several States carefully consider the question of foreign immigration as a national question, and that our Representatives in Congress be asked to urge upon Congress the enactment of such federal legislation as will effectively stem the tide of undesirable immigration now pouring into this country through the great ports of entry, and such laws as will look to the careful examination of applicants for admission at the ports of departure. Whereas the distribution of aliens from northern cities and their diversion from abroad to the South is being agitated; and Whereas the United States Immigration Commission is now investigating the attitude of the South toward these proposals and there is need of the farmers of Mississippi making known their wishes: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably opposed to the present tide of undesirable immigration now pouring into this country from sections of Europe, Asia, and Africa, which until recently sent us no immigrants, and that we urge all our officials and legislators, both state and national, to use their influence in every possible way to make clear our opposition and to secure reports and legislation that will exclude the present alien influx, which is detrimental to our best interests and to the welfare of our country; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to our Congressmen and Senators and to the Immigration Commission at Washington; and be it further Resolved, That the state presidents and lecturers emphasize this one question, and that copies of this resolution be furnished the press. (Passed unanimously by the Mississippi State Farmers' Union, at Jackson, Miss., July 8, 1908.) Whereas it is proposed to send immigrants to the South; and Whereas a Federal Government bureau has been created by Congress for the purpose of distributing and sending foreigners, now congesting the Northeast and coming to this country in such large numbers, to the agricultural sections of the South; and Whereas we are unalterably opposed to such and to the present enormous alien influx from southeast Europe and western Asia, as detrimental to our best interests and the welfare of the whole country; and Whereas the State of South Carolina abolished its bureau of immigration March 4 last and forbade the inducement of foreign immigration: Therefore be it Resolved, That the South Carolina Division of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, in annual convention assembled at Columbia, this 29th day of July, 1909, and representing 60,000 farmers, indorse and adopt the immigration resolutions passed by the National Farmers' Union at Fort Worth, Tex., last September, and urge upon Congress the immediate abolition of the federal bureau of distribution, and the speedy enactment of restriction laws substantially excluding the present enormous foreign influx of over 1,000,000 per year, by means of an increased head tax, a money requirement, the illiteracy test, and other restrictive measures; and be it further Resolved, That we call upon our State and particularly our South Carolina Congressmen and Senators to do all they can to prevent the agricultural sections being made a dump for foreign immigration; and be it still further Resolved, That the state union secretary-treasurer send a certified copy of these resolutions to each of our United States Senators and Congressmen, and to the United States Immigration Commission, and to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor at Washington, D. C. Whereas foreign immigration is proposed for the agricultural sections of the South; and Whereas the Federal Government is especially investigating the attitude of southern planters toward the distribution and diversion of the present alien influx to the South; and Whereas the farmers of Georgia are unalterably opposed to such, and are in favor of the substantial exclusion of the classes now pouring into this country: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of the State of Georgia, representing over 100,000 farmers, in annual convention assembled in Macon, Ga., this 29th day of July, 1908, do hereby express our opposition to foreign immigration, and urge our state and national officials to use their utmost influence in every possible way to secure the substantial exclusion of the present foreign influx and to prevent Georgia being made the dumping ground for foreign immigration; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Immigration Commission and the Commissioner-General at Washington, D. C., and to the Georgia general assembly and to our Congressmen and Senators; and that the local presidents and lecturers make a special point of this question in their own work. 28384-10 |