Almost a solid delegation upon this floor from that State is opposed to this bill. Every newspaper in New York State of any influence or power. without regard to party politics. is opposed to it. If the standard of civilization had been lowered In New York. if this large immigration had the effect of reducing the wages of American workmen in New York State and New York City. do you not suppose that protests would go up from the laboring organizations there. or from the newspapers. or from some of our civic societies? I have not received a single petition from New York City except one. and that was from the Junior Order of American Mechanics. in favor of this bill. Every request that has been made and every petition that has reached me has been opposed to this measure. and for two reasons: First. because they do not believe the literacy test should be the qualification for admission to America. and. secondly. because this word "solely." contained in the measure. puts an arbitrary power in the commissioner of immigration. and can be used to nullify the bill. and could serve the- purpose of keeping illiterates out who come here because of religious persecution In their native land. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen. we have in New York City this large immigration. we have not the percentage of illiteracy that they have in other parts of the country. I realize that the South passed through a devastating period. and I realize also that it will be some time before it can recover from the effects of the Civil War. but while the South is recovering from those effects it might engage for a time. at least. in educating its illiterates. There is one county in Kentucky that is devoting itself to that proposition.
Keywords matched
immigration literacy test