Rep. Samuel Dickstein, Democrat of New York, speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, repeated his proposal that his committee on immigration be given broad powers to investigate enemy aliens. The House voted down his resolution to this effect, 200 to 96, on June 18.
“This vote was not based on facts or reason or justification,” Rep. Dickstein charged. “It was based purely on prejudice, hate and intolerance, aroused by a few man in this House who told the Congress we were going to open the door for a lot of aliens.”
Dickstein had said earlier that one of the purposes of his proposed investigation was to remove the “enemy alien” stigma from refugees loyal to the United States. Although he made no formal move to reintroduce his resolution, Dickstein said this had been asked by several members of the committee.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.