Mr. President. there is not one of this class who could not easily and laughingly stand this educational test. An honest man. unhappily illiterate by force of circumstances. would be deported. but such as I speak of would come walking in. Mr. President. I believe it to be absolutely safe to say that most of time people who come from Europe to the United States come with honest purposes. They frequently comeand this Senators should keep in mind -to give to their children better opportunities than they had at home. Let me read at this point. and in support of this statement. an extract from the letter of Secretary Nagel to the Presidentthe Secretary who has had charge for several years of the administration of our immigration laws: Mly observation leads me to the conclusion that. so far as the merits of tihe individual immigrant are concerned. the test is altogether overestimated. The people who come from the countries named are frequently illiterate because opportunities have been denied them. The oppression with which these people have to contend in modern lines Is not religious. but it consists of a denial of the opportunity to acquire reading and writing. Frequently the attempt to learn to read and write the language of the particular people is discouraged by the Government. and these Immigrants in coming to our shores tire really striving to free themselves from the conditions under which they have been compelled to live. Mr. President. here I wish to say something along my own very recent experience. supporting what the Secretary says.
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immigration deported immigrant Immigrants