(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Admitting that “even in America anti-Semitism has undoubtedly gained ground within the last few years,” but nevertheless contending that “there is little prejudice in the United States against any particular man because of his racial blood and that what may at times appear to be a racial prejudice is only the manifestation of the fear on the part of Americans that American institutions and American ideals are endangered by the presence of a great unassimilated mass of any alien group,” Congressman William P. Holaday of Illinois, a member of the Immigration Committee and author of the deportation bill which was passed in the House but failed to receive action in the Senate, devoted a special portion of his speech regarding the immigration question, published in the Congressional Record, to the Jews.
Congressman Holaday declared that “no ### service can be rendered our foreign born than to restrict immigration, and thus give those already here a better opportunity to become assimilated,” and that “no class of our foreign born will profit more from restricted immigration than will the Jews.”
Congressman Holaday’s full statement regarding the Jews is as follows:
“The Jewish race has for more than twenty centuries been the object of oppression in Europe. In America the Jew has been comparatively free from oppression. This freedom from oppression, together with the greater economic opportunities offered by America, has made America the goal of millions of Jews. Even in America anti-Semitism has undoubtedly gained ground within the last few years.
“There is little prejudice in the United States against any particular man because of his racial blood. What may at times appear to be a racial prejudice is only the manifestation of the fear on the part of Americans that American institutions and American ideals are endangered by the presence of a great unassimilated mass of any alien group.
“This manifestation of fear has from time to time appeared in the past, as it will no doubt appear in the future, whenever the aliens from any foreign country enter our country in such numbers that they are unable to be assin###aled by America.
“It is urged that America owes a duty to humanity that requires her to admit without restriction the unfortunate people of all the world. However uncertain that duty may be, there is no uncertainty as to the duty we owe to America. We also owe a duty to the aliens now in our country, and this obligation should be discharged before permitting more aliens to enter.
“It is our duty to allay and prevent race prejudice and to offer every opportunity and facility for our foreign horn to fall into step with America’s progress. No greater service can be rendered our foreign born than to restrict immigration and thus give those already here a better opportunity to become assimilated.
“No class of our foreign born will profit more from restricted immigration than will the Jews.
“Today some Jewish publications and many able Jewish leaders have recognized this danger and are supporting the principles of restricted immigration and the deportation of alien criminals.
“American Jew and American Gentile must realize that their interests in America are one and the same,” he declared.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
