Speech #570102169

In the year 1902 we allowed to become a part of our body politic 165.850 people. all illiterates by their own admission. and probably in truth about twice as many. as we have no means of determining the verity of their statements. In the last eight years we have admittedand whether they have been fully assimilated I am unable to say660.654 illiterates. Italy furnished us last year 79.4 00 illiterates. or 42 per cent of her entire immigration. South Italy. from whom most of these immigrants came. gave us 49 per cent of illiterates. In the last eight years Italy has given us 307.700 illiterates. and. as I have suggested. in all probability twice that number. Austria in the same time has given us 165.350 illiterates. or 26 per cent of her entire immigration. I submit herewith a table showing the total immigration to the United States and the total immigration from Italy and Austria from 1895 to 1902. showing per cent of illiteracy: Total immigration to the United States. Year. Immigrants. Illiterates. Per cent. 195 ........................................ 258.536 44.914 20 31 80 ........................................ 343.267 83.196 25 1897 ....................................... 230.832 44.580 20 198 ........................................ 229.299 44.473 20 1899 8-------------------------------------- 311.715 61.408 20 1200 ....................................... 448.51. 95.673 21 91 ........................................ 487.918 120. 645 25 1902 ...................................... 648.743 165.705 26 Total .-...----------_ ------------.... 2.958.82 660.654 23 Illiteracy of immigrants from Italy and Austria. ITALY. Year. Immigrants. Illiterates. Per cent. 1895 ........................................ 3 427 15.450 43 1896 ........................................ 68060 31.40 49 1897 ........................................ 59.431 24.300 42 1898 ........................................ 5.613 24.550 42 189 --------------.. ......................... 77.419 31.700 41 1900 --------------------------------------- 10.135 89. 700 40 1901 . . . ..----------------------------------- 135.996 61.