Mr. President. it is very difficult for a youngster to add anything to what has been said by those- opposed to the literacy test by such men as President Eliot and the President of the United States and a great many other gentlemen who have had the opportunity. and a part of whose duty it has been to study this brand of legislation. The words of the second gentleman who spoke in regard to the fact that the immigrant desired to be excluded catches almost as though a burning torch were applied to him. the ability to take advantage of our institutions. are absolutely true. It has been shown that there is a greater percentage of illiteracy in the children of nativeborn parents than there is in the children of foreignborn parents. Mr. President. I do not desire to go into a detailed statement of the reasons for which we oppose the literacy test. I only desire to bring a homely illustration to the gentleien present. in that those of us who lead professional lives know of our own knowledge that very frequently in our experienceI know it has been in minewe find gentlemen who come to this country who can not read or write. who sign their notes and their deeds with a cross. who have brought up large families in decency . have given them every advantage that Amerian Institutions will permit . who have risen to stations of opulence in our communities . who have made excellent citizens. excellent fathers. and excellent business men . and I am quite positive that from those experiences the proposed test has no foundation in truth and in justice. Representative GALLIVAN.
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immigrant literacy test