12,000,000 Aliens Barred from U.S. in Decade by Immigration Laws, Labor Secretary Says

That 12,000,000 additional aliens would have come to the United States during the past ten years were it not for the immigration restrictions, was asserted by James J. Davis, secretary of labor, in a speech over the network of the Columbia Broadcasting System here. Mr. Davis spoke highly of President Hoover’s further restrictions put into effect by cutting down the number of visas issued by American consuls.

“Limited immigration was put into effect in 1921-1922,” declared Mr. Davis, “and no one will deny that it was helpful to us in finding work for our own people. Had it not been for the policy of limited immigration, a careful estimate tells us that during the past decade we should have had at least twelve millions added to our population from abroad, eighty percent of whom would have come here seeking employment.

“With limited immigration that number was reduced during these ten years to 4,100,000. That number now is more than those unemployed in the United States. Had it not been for the opposition to the limited immigration policy this number would have been greatly reduced. Now, with the arrival of 200,000 immigrants each year, the secretary of state, under the direction of the President, has ordered that no further visas be granted to those coming from abroad to this country looking for work until all of those here, both native and foreign born, are at work.

“That policy is right. It is an American policy to see that the unemployed in this country, both native and foreign born, are at work before we admit others to swell the ranks of the jobless. A protective tariff and limited immigration are Siamese twins. American industry and the American worker are not safe without the aid of these two laws.

“You women folks, think what limited immigration has meant to you. Since the beginning of the War 6,000,000 women have entered the ranks of our workers. With the four million employed prior to that time that makes a total of 10,000,000. If the workers were being recruited from abroad many of you today who are employed would be out of work,” Mr. Davis concluded.