The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04
VETOED BY CLEVELAND
Refused to Sign the New Immi-
grafton Law.
HE CRITICIZEs THE MEASURE.
Calls It Radical Departure From Our
Past Policy Relating to Immigration.
Especially Dislikss the Educational Test
and the Clause Affecting Canadians

WASHINGTON, March 3.-The presi-
dent has sent to the house of repre-
sentatives message vetoing the immi-
grafton bill in which he says:
"By the first section of this bill it is
proposed to amend section of the act
of March 8, 1891, relating to immigra-
tion, by adding to the classes of aliens
thereby excluded from admission to the
United States: All persons physically
capable and over 10 years of age who
cannot read and write the English lam
guage or some other language (parents
over 90 years old being excluded from
its provisions.)
"a radical departure from our ma
tional policy relating to immigration is
here presented. Heretofore we have
welcomed all who came to us from
other lands except those whose moral
or physical condition or history threat
ened danger to our national welfare
and safety"
The president then refers to our pres.
ent growth and sturdy people as proof
that our liberal immigration laws nave
been good thing for the country.
He declares that the present condi-
tions-so many people being unem-
overcrowded, but to a general stagna-
| tion of business. Says he: with the
advent of settled and wholesome tinan-
cial and economic governmental policies
and q consequent encouragement to the
activity of capital, the misfortunes of
unemployed labor should to great ex-
tent at least be remedied."
Regarding the educational test he
says: 1.-THE best reason that could be
given for this radical restriction of inn
migration is the necessity of protecting
our population against degeneration and
saving our national peace and quiet
from imported turbulence and disorder.
II cannot believe that we would be
protected against these evils by limit
ing immigration TO those who can read
and write in any language % words Of
our constitution. In my opinion it is
infinitely more safe to admit 100, 900
immigrants, who, though unable to
read and write, seek among US only a
home and opportunity to work, than to
admit one of those unruly agitators and
} enemies of governmental control who
cannot only read and write, but delights
in arousing by inflamatory speech the
} illiterate and peacefully inclined to dis
, content and tumult. Violence and dis
! order do not originate with illiterate
, laborers. They are rather the victims
of the educated agitator.
, "a parent, grandparent, wife OF
minor child of qualified immigrant
D though unable to read and write, may
, accompany the immigrant or be sent
, for to join his family provided the i'm
{ migrant is capable of supporting such
: relative. These exceptions to the gen
= eral rule of exclusion contained in the
/ bill were made to prevent the separa
tion of families, and yet neither
, brothers nor sisters are provided for
/ In order that relatives who are provided
for may be reunited, those still il
a foreign lands must be sent for to joiI
the immigrant here.
y "a husband who can read and write
i and who determines to abandon hi
= illiterate wife abroad will find her
under this law an absolutely safe re
! treat. The illiterate relatives mentioned
must not only be sent for but such i'm
!, migrant must be capable Of supporting
u them when they arrive"
! The president says that often tn
y y illiterate relative is the one who is well
to-do and would support his better edu
u Gated relation and should not be barred
The president further says: 9Th
prohibition against the employment O
aliens upon any public works of tn
u United States is in line with othe
d legislation Of q like character. 1t
F quite different thing, however, to de
clare it crime for an alien to com
regularly and habitually into the Unite
States for the purpose Of obtainin
work from private parties, if such allie
returns from time to time to foreig
{, country, and to constitute any employ
10 ment of such alien a criminal offenst
t. "When we consider these provision
of the bill in connection with our lon
v northern frontier and the boundaries {
b. several of our states and territorie!
often but an imaginary line seperatin
them from the British dominions, an
recall the friendly intercourse betwee
the people who are neighbors on eithC
side, the provisions of this bill atfectin
them must be regarded as illiberal, ma
row and un-American.
"The residents of these states an
territories have separate and specii
interests, which in many cases make a
interchange of labor between the
people and their alien labors most in
portant, frequently with the advantal
largely in favor Of our citizens.
"Such unfriendly legislation as is pr
posed could hardly fail to provoke r.
taliatory measures to the injury
many of our citizens who now hay
employment on adjoining foreign soil.
-,