Speech #640068134

Mr. Chairman. no doubt there are many who. like the gentleman from Massachusetts . are ready to accept any kind of a provision which will reduce immigration to this country. but for myself I am not ready to support a bill which I can not defend upon ethical grounds. There has been so much discussion with reference to the literacy test that many have come to think that the bill before us provides for no other test. Those who have considered it know that this is a great mistake. The most elaborate precautions have been taken to exclude criminals. paupers. and those afflicted with contagious diseases. The bill provides for obtaining Information with reference to those intending to emigrate to this country. for boards of inspection and investigation. and for heavy penalties upon transportation lines bringing into this country emigrants in violation of our regulations. It not only provides for immediate deportation of those immigrants who have come in violation of the law. but also that any who within five years are found to have been received in violation of the law. or who advocate anarchy or the overthrow of our Government. or who are found guilty of any seridus crime may be deported. Every possible means and method that can be thought of for the purpose of excluding the criminal classes has been inserted in the bill. Unfortunately there is no method of ascertaining definitely the condition of a mans mind. or whether he is controlled by criminal instincts. For that reason we have found that anarchists and dangerous criminals often clude every safeguard. The educational test. of course. is not a perfect one. It does not test a mans character. but having gone as fir as possible in that direction by the other provisions of the bill we find it necessary to supplement them by the literacy test. While this test is not a perfect one by itself. I challenge anyone to prepare a better test than it furnishes when combined with the others provided for in the bill. What can be better than to test the immigrant for character. health. means of support. and knowledge? Name. if you can. some other test that we. need. or tell us why the state of mental development in the immigrant should not be considered along with his other qualifications. If a man is as useful and makes as good a citizen who can not read and write as one who has some degree of education. then we might as well do away with the whole of our school system. Mr. Chairman. the gentleman who has just spoken says that the literacy test is a hypocritical test. I fear the gentleman does not understand its reason nor its qbject. I would not exclude any nman individually. solely for the reason that he could not read or write.