Speech #590120135

Of necessity. opportunity and desire for education had not developed amongst the masses of the people. Today in all European countries the facilities for education are such that as a rule it can be obtained by the intelligent and thrifty individuals composing the body politic. if they make an effort to acquire it. Therefore. as a rule. when immigrants conic to this country uneducated it is a demonstration that they are from the le~fst intelligent and industrious of their own people. Recent immigration has imposed a heavy educational burden on our country. The census of 1900 shows that 13.367.147 children were attending school. Of the total population of the country over 10 years of age there were 6.180.069 illiterate persons. or 10.7 per cent of the total population.