Speech #630134762

Ericsson. and Marconi. Their inventions have revolutionized the methods of peace and war. Time does not permit me to go into details. but the immigrant coming to our shores has kept up with the high standards of today. These immigrants in the last century were in the main poor. They were often spoken of in derision. Many did not seem desirable. but as a class they have been helpful to our civilization. I do not believe that the literacy test is the better test to exclude undesirable inunigrants. I believe that every restrictive measure should be strictly enforced that will bar the vicious. the diseased of body and mind from coming to our shores. I am in favor of enacting law that will provide that every single man or woman over 16 years of age. every married man or head of a family. whether educated or illiterate. shall furnish to our consuls. or any official designated by the United States. a certificate signed and properly verified by the officials of city or country in which they live or have resided as to their moral character. that they must have a clean record as to honesty and good citizenship. and that the steamship companies receiving the immigrants must have presented to them these certificates of good character before they can accept them as passengers. subject to such rules and regulations as set forth by our Government. In that way we will get a good type of immigrants. The literacy test does not prevent the undesirable from coming here. but it does prevent good. honest men who have not had the advantage of an education in their old homes. who wish to come and hope to make homes here for themselves and their families. Further. the socalled literacy test will not long bar immigrants from coming. Education is spreading everywhere. so this test will not long be a bar to those who wish to come. Originally the people coming to America were called colonists or settlers. today we use the word "immigrants." Many of the English who came were not able to read. The same can be said of other nationalities. but they have become a good citizenship. Many of our leading statesmen and educators believe that a test for morality is far better than the literacy test. President Wilson several times during his campaign for Chief Executive spoke and wrote freely in favor of a liberal immigration policy. I quote from one of his letters: I think that this country can afford to use and ought to give opportunity to every man and woman of sound morals. sound mind. and sound body who comes in good faith to spend his or her energies in our life. and I should certainly be inclined. so far as I am concerned. to scrutinize very jealously any restrictions that would limit that principle in practice. * * A splendid sentiment. which every good citizen can indorse. Further.