Speech #630424188

We saw the freetoll plank repudiated. and now the President and his party.are about to repudiate another plank in the Democratic platformthe one in reference to a second presidential term. So. it seems to me. that this argument falls to the ground. Oh. it may be that this test will not keep out of the United States all of the undesirable immigrants we would desire to keep out. but. in my opinion. it is a step in the right direction. This method may not be perfect. but what better plan is offered? It will be found that most of those who oppose the literacy test are unfavorable to any form of restriction. As a natidn we have always welcomed the thrifty and industrious immigrant. and will. I hope. continue this policy. Those who fail to have the proper respect for our institutions. those who do not appreciate the value of American citizenship and would subvert our laws. this class we do not welcome. :The literacy test. in my opinion. will bar many. I freely acknowledge that many of- our best and most desirable citizens are foreign born. Had they come to this country under present conditions. considering the advance the world has made in education. there would be few. if any. who would have been unable to meet the simple literacy test provided in this bill. Any foreigner imbued with the proper ambition and possessed of sufficient enterprise would fit himself for the test. In this connection I will quote the language of the literacy test. I do not see how it can be seriously objected to in this enlightened age. It reads as follows: That after four months from the approval of this act. in addition to the aliens who are by law now excluded from admission into the United States. the following persons shall also be excluded from admisslon thereto. to wit: All aliens over 16 years of age. physically capable of reading. *who can not read the English language. or some other language or dialect. including Hebrew or Yiddish: Provided. That any admissible alien or any alien heretofore or hereafter legally admitted. or any citizen of the United States. may bring in or send for his father or grandfather over 55 years of age. his wife. his mother. his grandmother. or his unmarried or widowed daughter. If otherwise admissible. whether such relative can read or not. and such relative shall be permitted to enter. That for the purpose of ascertaining whetheraliens can read theImmigrant inspectors shall be furnished with slips of uniform size. prepared under the- direction of the Secretary of Labor. each containing not less than 30 nor more than 40 words in ordinary use printed In plainly legible type in some one of the various languages and dialectsof immigrants. Each alien may designate the particular language or dialect In which he desires the examination to be made. and shall be required to read the words printed on the slip in such language or dialect. When the war in Europe ends the Pacific coast will be confronted with a new immigration problem resulting from the opening of the Panama Canal. Then the European immigrant will land directly at our doors. We are taking steps to meet the situation. The best methods of locating immigrants in the soil is being studied. With this in view. a Pacific coast. immigration congress was held in San Francisco in April. 1913. attended by 327 delegates from 42 cities in California. Oregon. and .Washington. As shown by evidence already placed in the RECORD. the chief fight against this section is being inspired by the foreign steamship companies which profit so largely from the traffic. They want no restriction of immigration. It is not surprising that these companies have contributed to the fund raised by the National Liberal Immigration League. which is the leading organization fighting against the restriction of immigration. Probably it will be Impossible to override :the veto of the -President owing to his power. but the issue will be a live one in the next campaign. Organized labor is interested.