Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
IMMIGRATION BILL,
The President Sends Hs Veto Of
It to the House.
HE WRITES FULLY ON The SUBJECT.
Mr.. Cleveland Says 1t Is Infinitely Better to
Admit 100000 Illiterxte Lsborers
Than One Unruly and Edu-
Gated Agitator.

WAsHiNdTON, MarcH OIL ne preAl-
dent yesterday sent TO the house Of
representatives message vetoing the
the immigration bill He says:
herewith return without approval house bill
No. 1884, entitled An Act to Amend the In
migration Laws Of the United States A rad
ical departure from our national policy relating
to immigration Is here presented Heretofore
we have welcomed all who came to us from
other lands except those whose moral and phys
ical condition or history threatened danger to
our national welfare and safety, relying upon
the Jealous watchfulness Of our people to pre-
vent injury to our political and social fabric we
have encouraged those coming from foreign
countries to cast their lot with US and Join in
the development Of our vast domain, securing
In return share In the blessings Of American
citizenship A century's stupendous growth.
largely due to the assimilation and thrift Of
millions Of sturdy and patriotic adopted citi-
zens, attests the success Of this generous
and free handed policy which, while guarding
the peoples interest, exacts from our immi-
grants only physical and moral soundness and
willingness and ability to work.
II Is claimed, believe that the time has
come for the further restriction OF immigration
on the ground that an excess Of population
0vercrowds our land 1t is said, however, that
the quality Of recent immigration Is undesir-
able for the time is quite within recent men,
DRY when the same thing was said Of immi-
grants who, with their descendants, are now
numbered among our best citizens
The claim is also made that the influx Of
foreign laborers deprives Of the opportunity to
work those who are better fitted than they to
privileges OF earning their own livelihood by
daily toll An unfortunate condition Is GER
tainly presented when any man who is willing
to labor is unemployed. But so far as this
condition now exists among our people, 1t
must be conceded to be result Of phenomenal
business depression and the stagnation Of oil
enterprises In which labor IL o factor. With the
advent Of settled and wholesome financial and
economic governmental policies and con-
seQuent encouragement to the activity Of cap
ital, the misfortunes OF unemployed labor
should, to great extent at least be remedied.
II 1t continues It's natural consequences must
be to check the future immigration to our cities
of foreign laborers and to depete the ranks Of
those already here In the meantime those
most willing and best entitled ought to be able
to secure the advantages Of such work as there
Is to DO
tits proposed by the bill under consideration
tomeet the alleged difficulties Of the situation
by establishing an educational test by which
the right Of the foreigner to make his home
with US shall be determined. Itsgeneral scheme
Is to prohibit from admission to our country all
immigrants physically capable and over 10
years who cannot read and write the English
language The best reason that could be
given for this radical restriction Of immgra-
ton was the necessity Of protecting our popu-
lation against degeneration and saving our
national peace and quiet from imported
turbulence and disorder. cannot
believe that we would be pro-
tected against these evils by limiting immi-
grafton to those who can read and write In any
language 25 words Of our constitution. In my
opinion 1t Is infinitely more safe to admit a
hundred thousand immigrants who though
unable to read and write seek among US only q
home and opportunity to work. than to admit
one OF those unruly agitators who cannot only
read and write. but delight in arousing
by intlammatory speech the illlterate
and peacefully inclined to discomfort and |
tumult Violence and disorder do not origi- |
nate with illiterate laborers. They are rather
the victims Of educated agtators. The ability |
to read and write as required In this bill and Of
itself Affords In my opinion a misleading test
Of contented industry and supplies unsatisfac-
tory evidence Of desirable citizenship or q |
proper apprehension Of the benefits Of our In
A careful examination Of this bill has con-
WINGED me that for the reasons given, and others
not specifically stated, It's provisions are un-
necessarily harsh and oppressive, and that It's
defects In construction would cause vexation
and Its operation would result in harm to our
citizens