Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-03-04
CLEVELAND
Issues a Message Vetoing the
immigration Bill.
The First Section Excludes the Ad-
mission of llliterate Persons.
This. the Message Says, is a Radical De-
parture From Our National Policy
He Objects, Among Other Things,
to the Educational Test.

Cleveland, in his message vetoing the
immigration bill, calls attention to the
first section of that measure excluding
from admission to the United States
illiterate persons, designated in the
section, and declares that the provis-
ion presents radical departure from
our national policy relating to
immigration. Heretofore" he says,
1--WE have welcomed all who
came to us from other lands,
except whose moral or physical
condition or history threatened danger
to our national welfare and safety.
Relying upon the jealous watchfulness
of our people to prevent 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
developments 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 citizens attest the
success of this generous and free-hand-
ed policy, which while guarding the
peoples interests, cXacts from our i'm
migrants only physical and moral
soundncss and a willingness and abili-
ty to work.
"A contemplation of the grand re-
suits of this policy he writes, "can
not fail to arouse sentiment in its de-
fenSe."
Referring to the claims that the
quality of recent immigrants is unde-
sirablc, President Cleveland says the
time is quite within recent memory
when the same thing was said of i'm
migrants who. with their descendants.
are now numbered among our best
citizens.
1t is said that too many immigrants
settle in our cities, thus dangerously
increasing their idle and vicious popu
lation. This is certainly a disadvan-
tage: it can not be shown, however,
that it affects all our cities, nor that it
is permanent, nor does it appear that
this condition, where it exists, demands
as its remedy the reversal of our pres
ent immigration policy.
The claim is also made that the in
1uX of foreign laborers deprives of the
opportunity to work those who are bet
ter entitled than they to the privilege of
earning their livelihood by daily toll,
An unfortunate condition is certainly
presented when any who are willing
to labor are unemployed. But so far
as this condition now exists among
our people. it must be conceded to
lao ,ng-n1t Of ,N1,nr,nronJ,o1 al h1S l..
ness depression and the stagnation of
NIL enterprises in which labor is a fac
tor. With the advent of settled ana
wholesome financial and economic
governmental policies and n conse-
quent encouragement to the activity of
capital. the misfsrtunes of unemployed
labor should to great extent at
least be rcmedied. II it continues, its
natural consequences must be to check
the further immigrati tion to our cities
of foreign laborcrs, and to deplete the
ranks of those already there. 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.
The educational test contained in the
bill receives close attention on this
particular point. Mr.. Cleveland says,
in his opinion, it is infinitely
more safe to admit hundred
thousand immigrants who, though
unable to read and write, seek
among us only home and OPP
pcrtunity to work, than to admit
of one of those unruly agitators and
enemies of governmental control, who
can not only read and write, but delights
in arousing by inllammatory speech the
illiterate and peacefully inclined to
discomfort and tumult. Violence and
disorder do not originate with
illitcrate laborers. They are rather
the victims of the educated
agitator, The ability to read
and write as required in this in and
OF itself, affords in my opinion, mis-
leading test of contented industry and
supplies unsatisfactory evidence of de-
sirable citizenship or a proper appre-
citation of the benefits of our institu-
sion.
The prohibition against the employ
meut Of aliens upon any public works
of the United States is in line with
I
! 1t is quite different thing, however,
| to declare it crime for an alien to come
regularly and habitually into the
United States for the purpose of OBJ
/ tanning work from private parties, if
such alien returns from time to time
/ to a foreign country, and to constitute
any employment Of such alien Grim,
inal oifcnse.
Passed over the Veto.
WAsuINGToN, March 3.-The house
passed the immigration bill over the
I presidents veto Wednesday afternoon
by q vote Of 1913 to 81.
senator sherman Resigns.
WAsmNGTOE, March 3.-Senator
! Sherman stated to an United Associ
ated Presses representative Wednesday
afternoon that his resignation as