Congressman’s Claim That Immigration Quotas Are Beneficial to Jews Refuted

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A refutation of the claim put forth by Congressman Holaday that the quota immigration laws are beneficial to the Jews was made by Congressman Samuel Dickstein in a statement to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin.”

“I do not know what prompted this distinguished statesman from Illinois to claim that the quota immigration law is beneficial to Jews. I do not know upon what the statesman bases his claim nor do I understand why he makes this claim that the quota law is beneficial to Jews. Statistics show beyond shadow of a doubt that he is not stating a fact and that he is not justified in his statement. The quota law of which he speaks, is a law that greatly benefits Great Britain, the so-called Nordic Race, which is described as follows: ‘Nordics with blue eyes, blond hair and long statues.’ The so-called Nordic races for whose benefit this law was made and for which he has exerted his efforts and which measure he has supported so earnestly was his chief interest and the real problem of America was forgotten,” Congressman Dickstein declared.

“His duty to help report out a bill which would bring about the uniting of families of those in the United States legally and of good moral character was overlooked.

“The Jews did not seek too much benefit from any one in Congress. They were not seeking more than what they are justly entitled to under our form of government. They simply resented being discriminated against.

“Throughout history, the Jew can prove to America that he has achieved great accomplishments in every walk of life and has done his share towards the building of our country. The Jew has always taken advantage of becoming a citizen of the United States at the earliest possible date, whereas the Nordic races, to whom my colleague from Illinois has reference, have taken from ten to thirty years before they would renounce their allegiance to the king,” he said.

“The gentleman from Illinois should study a little more history, as a result of which he would not make an assertion that the quota immigration law is beneficial to Jews. Jews are not seeking to open the doors of America. They love their country of adoption and would be the last in the world to demand anything to which they are not justly entitled. They are merely seeking justice to all of us and are against a preference to any particular race. What the Jews are seeking is what their forefathers sought and for which they fought and bled.

“Further reading the article of the gentleman from Illinois, we find the following: ‘We also owe a duty to the alien now in our country and this obligation should be discharged before permitting more aliens to enter.’ Has the gentleman from Illinois carried out this statement of his by voting to unite the families of those legally in the United States, namely, the wives and children of declarants? Has the gentleman made any attempt to bring about the very thing he preaches? A glance at his record in the last session of Congress will answer my question.

“Therefore, let Congressman Holaday better tell us something about the great value of the Immigration Law which benefits the Nordic races, which would really come within the scope of his speech,” Congressman Dickstein concluded.