Now. Mr. Chairman. in this literacy test we are asked to vote to -keep out other mothers. equally able. equally deprived of opportunity. -though for different reasons. I shall not vote to do that. because I think the gentleman stated the crux -of the proposition that the failure to be able to read and write measures not lack of ability but tuck of opportunity. and .his good mother. able as lie. simply typifies the thousands who come to this country. unable to read and write. but who see to it that their -children. born either abroad or here. are the most literate and the .most indefatigable in our schools. When my daughter stands at the head of her class. as I am thankful and proud as a parent to .say that she does. I find that those who stand second. third. and fourth at her side are the cildren of the immigrants. put there and kept there by their parents. who. because themselves deprived of opportunity. are in precisely the samne frame of mind as that lady in Ohio who. herself deprived of opportunity. made her Son the president of -a college. Now. Mr. Chairman. there is really no argument to be anade in favor of the literacy test. Nothing has been proved against illiteracy except lack of opportunity. and therefore I want to devote the remainder of my 10 minutes to the amendment that is going to be offered by the gentlenman from Illinois . as I understand. if this anendment fails. .and that is to insert the words or political" after the word "religious." I differ from the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts . He says he is. not -in favor of letting in these Armenians.
Keywords matched
literacy test immigrants