Speech #630401001

Mr. Speaker. I do not- desire to prolong the discussion on this report or to discuss in detailfor that could not be done in the few minutes allotted to methe points In difference between the two Houses.but I desire particularly to emphasize again the -fiews so often expressed on this floor In opposition to the literacy test. :It has been Well remarked that the test neither determined the fitness nor the character of the alien. It Is a test that is unAmericanand undemocratic. It has been condemned In veto messages by two Presidents of the United States. An attempt was made in the last House -to havethe Presidents veto over. ruled. and that effort failed. Now It is again proposed that this literacy test be injected Into the immigration bill. The fact is that the conferees on the part of the House are not unanimous on "this proposition. Two of the conferees. known to favor the literacytest. have. it is true. agreed with the Senate conferees. One of the conferees on the part -of the House. who has always been a very earnest and consistent opponent of the literacy test. of course has disagreed with the conferees. The .entire metropolitan- press of New York and. generally -speaking. -the press of the larger cities. have condemned the literacy test. These cities from. which this condemnation so largely comes aboundwith immigrants and those who have been of the immigrant classes and who have come from every part of the habitable world. The people -of these cities have not been apprehensive of the imaginary dangers that have been mooted and have not shared the fears that the advocates of the measure have expressed on the floor of this House about the influx. of.immigration. They have rather found that immigration has been in many ways helpful to the land and served to promote the general upbuilding and welfare and contributed to the prosperity of our country. The hand of toil is still- required to further develop the resources of. our land. I do not Wish to repeat. but desire only In a word to refer to what I so often said during debates here on the immigration question. that the American boy is fast leaving .the farm and is allured tothe cities. and there is consequent necessity. especially in these times when crops are getting less and cost of living Is ever on the increase. to bring to the agricultural districts those who are willing to work on the farmand till and cultivate the soil. We still require those who must help to dig the mines. tunnel the mountains. lay tracks. build railroads. and do the hundred and one things tha t enter Into uanual labor. If the immigrant coming from abroad. hopefully looking forward to making his way decently upward and onward in our communities and to assimilate withis in our Americanlife. is- healthy inmind and body. Is lawabiding. is free from those objections which under existing law would make him excludable. what reason. except for arbitrary restriction. can be offered to his admission to this country. where he can. through the mul. titude of our agencies which go to the Americanization of the foreigner and through the manifold educational opportunities v afford almost everywhere. though he come here illiterate. in time qualify himself for worthy citizenship. as have the thousands and thousands of others in the past whose situation has been similar. I know. Mr. Speaker. that it is useless here to continue the discussion. I realize that argument which will demonstrate by facts and figures the absurdity and injustice of the literacy test will at this time be unavailing. The vote of the House heretofore taken on the Burnett bill foreshadows the result to be expected on the present motion of the gentleman from Alabama to concur in the conference report. But I would not let this opportunity to voice my objections pass. even in the few minutes now yielded to me. without in the line of the course I have heretofore steadily pursued to again emphasize my views and enter my protest against this unfair literacy test.