The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-03
de Condemns the Policy It Would Inad6drdte
as Distinctly UnAmeriCdn.
ILLITERaCY NOT THE GREATEsT PERIL
Century of Splendid Results Cited in Defense of the
Generous Welcome the Nation Has Freely
Offered TO Hl1.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-The
president today sent the house of rep
resentatives the following message
vetoing the immigration bill:
To the house Of representatives: I here
with return without approval house bill num-
bered 1854 entitled IAN Act to Amend the
immigration Laws of the United States''
By the first section Of this bill it is pro-
posed to amend section of the act of March
3, 1891, relating to immigration by adding
to the classes Of aliens, thereby excluded
from the admission to the United States the
following:
"AI persons physically capable and over
sixteen years of age who cannot read and
write the English language or some other
language; but a person not so able to read
and write who is over fifty years of age
and IS the parent or grand parent Of a
qualified immigrant over twenty-one years
or age, capable Of supporting such parent or
grand parent may be sent for and come to
Join the family of a child, or grandchild
over twenty-one years of age, similarly quail
fed and capable, and a wife or minor child
not so able TO read and write may accompany
or be sent for and come and join the hus-
band or parent similarly qualified and
capable
radical 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
ened danger to our national welfare and
safety. Relying upon the jealous watchful-
ness Of our people to prevent injury to our
political and social fabric, we have en-
couraged those coming from foreign coun-
tries to cast their lot with us and Join in the
development of our vast domain, securing
in return a share in the blessings Of Ameri-
can citizenship. century's stupendous
growth, largely due to the assimilation and
thrift Of millions of sturdy and patriotic
adopted citizens. attects the success of this
end uyf1ic IUbi
guarding the peoples interests, exacts from
every Immigrant only physical and moral
soundness and willingness and ability to
work.
this policy cannot fail to arouse a sentiment
in its defense; for however 1t might have
been regarded as an original proposition and
viewed as an experiment, its accomplishments
are such that IL it is to be uprooted at this
late day its disadvantages should be plainly
apparent, and the substitute adopted should
be just and adequate, free from uncertain
ties and guarded against difficult or oppress-
i've administration.
1t is not Claimed. l believe that the time
has come for the further restriction of imm-
grafton on the ground that an excess of pop
u.ation oyercrowds our land 1t is said, how
ever that the quality CT recent immigration
is undesirable. The time is quite within re-
cent memory when the same thing was said
of immigrants who, with their descendants,
are now numbered among our best citizens.
1t is said that too many emigrants settle
! IN our cities, tnuS dangerously increasing
their idle and vicious population. This is
certainly disadvantage. 1t cannot be shown,
however. that it affects all our cities, nor
that it is permanent; nor does it appear that
this condition, where 1t exists, demands as
its remedy the reversal of our present immi-
| grafton policy.
The claim is also made that the influx OF
! foreign laborers deprives of the opportunity
to work those who are better entitled than
| they to the privilege of earning their iveli-
| hood by daily toll. An unfortunate condition
| is certainly presented when any who are will
| ing to labor are unemployed. But so far as
| this condition now exists among people,
| it must be conceded to be a result of phe-
| nomenal business depression and the stagna-
! ton CT all enterprises in which labor is a
/ factor. With the advent of settled and whole
| some financial and economic government poll
/ c!es and consequent encouragement to the
! activity of capital, the misfortune Of unem-
| plOyed labor should, 10 a great extent at
! least, be remedied. If it continues, its nat
| ural consequences must be to check the furth-
| er immigration TO our cities of foreign labor
! ers and to deplete the ranks of those already
| here. In the mean time those most willing
and best fitted ought to be able to secure the
| advantages Of such work there is to do
| 1t is proposed by the bill under considera-
ton to meet the alleged difficulties of the sit
| uation by establishing educational test by
| which the right Of a foreigner to make his
| home with us shall be determined. It's gen
| eral scheme Is to prohibit from admission tc
| our country all immigrants physically capa-
| BILE and over sixteen years who cannot read
| and write the English language some other
| language and 1t is provided that this tes
| shall be applied by requiring imm grants
| seeking admission to read and afterwards tC
| write not less than twenty nor more than
! twenty-five words of the constitution of the