Mr. Chairman. how about the German. the French. the Scandinavian. the Bohemian. and others that are so desirable? If this law had been in force i the first -decade of this century nearly 35.000 Germans. over 6.000 French. over 10.000 Irish. over 3.000 Hollanders. over 2.200 Scandinavians. over 1.300 Bohemians. who were all otherwise qualified. would have been denied admission on account of the literacy test. Who here would have denied these good. -wholesome immigrants admission? The injustice and unreasonnbleness of this illiteracy can be multiplied ad infinitum. It this law had been in force the last decade over 2.000.000 worthy immigrants would have been denied admission for the simple reason that they were illiterate. In support of this bill the assertion is frequently made. " We do not want the illiterate of Europe." Mr. Chairman. it has been the illiterate immigrant that has been responsible for the decrease of illiteracy In our country. What are the facts as proved by Government statistics? The United States Comnissioner of Education. in his letter of transmittal of Bulletin No. 51. recently issued. and entitled. " Education of the immigrant." says: That these peopleMeaning inmigrantsare interested in education of their children. or at least obedient to the schbolattendance laws. is shown by the fact that the least illiterate element of our children is the nativeborn children of foreignborn parents. The illiteracy among -the children of nativeborn parents is three times as great as that among thenativeborn children of foreignborn parents. This statement of the Commissioner of Education is borne out by census statistics: Class. 1893 1903 1910 Per cent.
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immigrant literacy test immigrants