Speaker. originally I endeavored. -both in the committee and iii the House. to secure the adoption of an amendment which I considered reasonable and fair. but. due to the misunderstanding of conditions on the part of the majority of. the Members at the time it was offered. it was rejected. I shall offer it again if the opportunity presents itself. The amendment would amend the provision so that it would read. that the following classes of persons would be exempt from the operation of the literacy test. to wit: All aliens who shall prove to the proper Immigration officer or to the Secretary.of Labor that they emigrated from the country of which they were last permanent residents for the purpose of escaping from religious. political. or racial persecution. whether such persecution was evidenced by overt acts or by discriminatory laws or regulations. This amendment. if enacted or adopted. would tend to exempt from the operation of theliteracy test all those persecuted on account of political. religious. or racial prejudice. Surely no one who Is not blind with prejudice could. object to this provision. Did not our Pilgrim Fathers come here to escape religious persecution? Cbuld they have passed the literacy test if one had then been in force? Surely not. because history tells us that 50 per cedt of them were illiterate. Why should we. then. at this late day penalize the aim and ambi. tion of those who desire to be free?
Keywords matched
Immigration emigrated literacy test