Speech #630132299

Mr. Chairman. how about the German. the French. the Scandinavian. the Bohemian. and others that are so desirable? If this law had been in force in the first decade of this century. nearly 35.000 Germans. over 6.000 French. over 10.000 Irish. over 3.000 Hollanders. over 2.200 Scandintvians. over 1.300 Bohemians. who were all otherwise qualified. would have been denied admission on account of the literacy test. Who here would have denied these good. wholesome immigrants admission? The injustice and unreasonableness of this illiteracy can be multiplied ad infinitum. If this law had been in force the last decade. over 2.000.000 worthy immigrants would have been denied admission for the simple reason that they were illiterate. able showing the percentages of aliens over 14. years of age vho would be excluded by a literacy test. [Abstract of reports of Immigration Commission. Vol. I. p. 99. Number and percentage of immigrants admitted to the United States who were 14 years of age or over and who could ncither read nor write. during the fiscal years 1899 to 1910. inclusive. by race or people. Compiled from the reports of the Commissioner General of Immigration.] Race or people. African (black) .................................. Arm enian ...........................................