Speech #890085182

I cannot agree with this. Im convinced that we must stamp out discrimination in all the 50 States of the Union. There has also been suggestions that we eliminate literacy tests. I think this would be a dangerous precedent and should be rejected. This could set the stage for huge blocks of votes to be "bought off" without these people knowing what they were doing or voting for. Certainly we are trying to improve the opportunity for the individual to express himself at the polls and not set the stage for his vote to be "used" by some unscrupulous political professional or group. The dignity and selfrespect of the individual must still reign supreme if this democracy in a Republic is to properly function and flourish. The fact that certain minimum literacy requirements are a prerequisite to attainment of naturalized citizenship should be ample justifIcation for holding to the test in our Voting rights bill. The Civil Rights Act of 1957. passed with President Johnsons support. when- he was the Democratic majority leader included a provision "that a person was not competent for Federal jury duty unless he could read. write. speak. and understand the English language." Of course. we must all recognize that the States. where illiteracy continues. have a continuing responsibility to see that the educational opportunities of all our citizens are not restricted. But I do believe this problem has to be resolved separately.