Chairman. having occupied the floor during general debate on this bill and discussed at some length the objectionable. literacytest clause. I will not now detain yod with extended remarks on the amendment I have proposed. It brings us squarely to the real issue involved and it presents the crucial question in this Immigration measure. That the literacy test has been placed in the bill as a means for restriction is a fact now conceded. That it is not a test of character has been to an extent also admitted. Its enactment would controvert our countrys boast that this is the land of opportunity. It would give bold contradiction to the profession America has made that this laud affords a refuge to the downtrodden and oppressed who. worthy of our considerate sympathy. knocks at our gates for entrance. It would penalize men and women who were denied educational advantages because of inequalities existing among the people of their native land. or because of oppressive and proscriptive laws in the countries from whence they come. � You would by this educational test exclude the physically. mentally. morally sound immigrant merely because he could not read. while at the same time the clever schemer. the cunning rascal. or the viciously inclined might be able to gain admittance because he could read and write. In short. the test of reading determines nothing to establish worth or character. I undertook this morning under general debate to show you briefly what immigration has done for this country for its upbuilding and the promotion of its welfare. Experience has demonstrated the fact that an illiteracy test will tend to keep out many who are weil deserving and who make decent. wellbehaved. and Industrious dwellers in the different communities in which they happen to settle or to dwell. The denunciation leveled by so many of the advocates of the bill against immigration was. as you were told. directed in years gone by against the immigration which now very rightly and justly receive praise as a good. peaceful. industrious people. whose citizenship is most worthily bon by them and whose civic and patriotic duties they have with fidelity discharged. Now. however. your attacks are directed mainly against the Italians and against the Russian and Romanian.. Hungarian and Galician Jews. against Poles and Slavonians. and some Germans. too. who. if they happen unable to pass the reading test you would bar from entrance to our shores.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that immigrants are either well-deserving and industrious or clever schemers and cunning rascals.