Speech #870188729

But those which might prefer to set their standards higher ought to be free to do soas the Constitution clearly entitles them to do. provided they apply the standard without discrimination as to sex or race. The mere fact that a man has a rudimentary knowledge of how to read and write. after all. hardly makes him competent to pass on issues of state. One particularly pernicious provision of the bill would strike down New York States requirement of literacy in English. by making 6 years schooling in Puerto Rico the legal equivalent of a literacy test. There is nothing arbitrary or unreasonable in requiring that voters be familiar with the language of government. which is also that of the candidates among whom they must choose. New Yorks large Spanishspeaking population makes this a local Issue of some moment.