Opinions Concerning
Immigration Policy

A splendid occasion was provided to debate the pros and cons of American immigration policy at the National Immigration Conference that convened in New York City during December of 1923:

“Most of the speakers advocated restriction and selection, but as to the degree and variety of each there was no consensus of opinion… Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn, President of the American Museum of Natural History, spoke from the standpoint of anthropology:

“‘In coldblooded, scientific language our best stock is threatened with extinction.’ Nevertheless, he opposed the ‘bias of this country in favor of the Nordic immigrant. This is a mistake. Selective immigration would prevent such a mistake and take from healthy, sound families the type we want. I believe that in Italy and in the Balkans, there can be found desirable types of future Americans.'”