Speech #620269512

The requirements of the bill before us are certainly not as drastic as these. in that he is required only under this bill to read a few words in his own language. But that is not all. This bill does not keep out or require this literacy test if the alien is fleeing from persecution. In that event he is allowed to come into this country. although he may be absolutely illiterate and unable to read. We in nowise shut our gates to those of other nations who are seeking a place of refuge from persecution in their own land. and were we I should certainly not vote for the bill. I believe this bill will help us to improve upon the character of our immigration. I do not believe it will keep out any desirable citizens. and I do believe that it will be of great beliefit. not only to those nativeborn Americans of our country but those who make this their home and intend to live with us. I can not but be surprised at the inconsistency of some Members who have been talking upon this floor for lo these many years about protecting American labor from foreign competition by keeping out goods of foreign make. which they claim are manufactured or made by pauper labor. and yet they would keep down the bars and let illiterates and all others who may desire to come to this country come in without any hindrance except those debarred by our immigration laws. and here. upon our own soil and in our own midst. compete with our American labor. whether native or foreign born. As for myself. I prefer to keep out the class aimed to be excluded by this bill and to spend my time and my efforts in the further protection of those aliens now with us. through granting to them salutary laws and more healthful surroundings. than to permit illiterates from every country of the globe to be dumped upon us. flooding our labor market and depreciating the value of the labor now performed by our citizens. both native and foreign. I would rather have our people happy and prosperous than to see them competing with every class of illiterates which might be brought in by the steamship and railroad corporations who are engaged In promoting immigration to this country. and whose supreme object in bringing them here is the profit they derive from the charge for their transportation. Furthermore. I do not believe it is in the interest of the illiterate aliens themselves to be encouraged to come to this country by stories of vast wealth and large wages and thereby induced to leave a country where they have lived all their lives in comparative prosperity. happiness. and contentment.