I think. however. that we can safely say. without reference to whether these intimations are correct or incorrect. that the attitude of this administration has been made clear to the Members of the House. On three distinct occasions since time present administration came into power President Wilson appeared in person before joint sessions of the House and Senate. and in plain. wellchosen. and unequivocal terms.he conveyed to Congress his views with regard to the subjects upon which he thought it would be wise for the Congress to act. and were of pressing importance to the country. But on none of these occasions did he mention. directly cr indirectly. the subject of immigration. So that the subject of iamigration is not only not a part of our legislative program. ac-. cording to our platform promises to the people. but consideration of that subject was not even invited by the President. As far as the merits of the bill are concerned. I am heartily in sympathy with the view that immigration ought to be restricted. but I am not prepared to adopt the view that because a man can not read or write. therefore he should not be admitted to this country. The warmest advocates of the restriction of immigration by means of the illiteracy test come from States where illiteracy prevails. unfortunately. to a very great extent. and when this charge was made by Members of the House who come from districts where illiteracy is not so common. I admired the spirit with which Members who represent Southern States responded that the illiteracy which obtains in those sections was due not to unwillingness on the part of the people to secure education but was very largely due. if not entirely. to the disastrous effects of the War between the States. I can very readily understand how the disastrous effects of war have had much to do with depriving men and women of an opportunity to acquire education. and if these conditions obtain for a period of 50 years after a disastrous war. how much more true must these conditions be among peoples who are frequently at war.
Keywords matched
immigration