The Washington times., 1902-02-20
Mir. John L. Kennedy Against
Educational Test.
DECLARES LABOR IS DIVIDED
House Committee ENnect> to Com
pietc Ncw Measure and Make Re
port Within Two Wcei.>-hany
Changes Discussed.

Mr.. John L. Kennedy, who was mem
Der OF the Industrial Commission, whicl
has just concluded its work, and forme
president of Columbia Typographical
u on, was witness yesterday before tn,
House Committee on Immigration an,
submitted TO them brief review of tn.
legislation on the subject OF immigration
as recommended by the Industrial Com
mission. In Mr.. kcnnedys opinion
rigid enforcement OF the present immigra-
ton laws would accomplish evcrythinG
desired by labor. He made a strong argu-
ment against the proposed educational
test for immigrants.
Labor init.
1t is beyond question" he said that
organized labor is in favor of a further
restriction of immigration. The truthful
ness of this statement Will be established
in the mind of any member OF this COM
mittee who will take the trouble 10 read
the testimony OF the repres antatives Of
organized labor VINO appeared before the
Industrial Commission. The representa-
tiyes OF all the national and international
organizations gave testimony on this sub
ject.
without single exception that l now
recall they said the members Of their
unions were in favor OF restricting i'm
migration. Some of those chiefs We're
born in foreign Iands-England, ireland.
Scotland. Wales: some of them are the
sons Of immigrants; very few of them are
natives whose American lineage runs back
through several generations. So when you
hear that this. that or the other foreign
element in our population is opposed 10
restrictive immigration measures you
should exercise some caution before &C
cepting such statements. II is barely
possible that such sentiments are pro-
NOTED by great interests-foreign inter-
ests at that-which would be affected by
such legislation.
Question Over Tests.
When it comes to the method of re
sJricting immigration, the labor chiefs are
divided. Some favor the educational test.
others a property qualification; twenty
one years residence is advocated, likewise
a complete restriction of immigration for
a number OF years, and it is also believed
mat q SlTlCl enforcement OIL the present.
laws would give all the needed relief.
And now about the educational test.
want you to bear in mind that when I use
the word educated l do not necessarily
mean to stretch it beyond the limited
meaning which it has for the educational
test advocates. | believe that it would
be the most cruel, the most shameful
and, from our country's standpoint, the
most harmful barrier which America
could possibly put up against any eau
casian people.
NO enlightened American will decry
education. We all know that it is a great
blessing. We all know that it is the chief
cornerstone of our Christian civilization.
1t has led the world out of the dark ages
up TO the bright golden twentieth cen
tury. No language can be too extrava-
CANT in picturing what learning has done
for the world. but illiteracy is not a
crime, and if it be an evil, it is not I'M
mixed with much that is good
Doubt often Arises
Who among you shall say that the for
eigner seeking admission to our shores,
who is sound in body, of average moral
character. willing to work, anxious to
submit TO our laws, and become a good
citizen, must take his place with paul
pers, criminals, the diseased and alien
contract laborers. and go back to his ma
tive land, simply because he has been
denied the blessing of the rudiments OF
an education?
Have We place for such man in this
country? Who doubts it? He will work
at what his hands find to do. He is far
more willing TO take up with what we
call unskilled labor than his fellow-im-
migrant who can read and write
The blessings of American education
are taking the American youth away from
unskilled labor. In the discussion of this
question we hear much about what Massa-
chusetts has done for education. All
praise to Massachusetts. Her example is
glorious and worthy OF emulation: but
what Massachusetts boy. graduate of
one OF her high schools. will get out
with pick and shovel and do construction
work on her railroads or tear M the
Streets OF Boston 20 make sewer or Law
q gas MAIN
Only Workers Wanted.
This immigrant viii do it. and gladly.
and there is vast amount of such work
for him TO do. The progress of invention
in mechanics and electricity may 90 on
10 such triumphs that in the end all that
will be necessary to build railroads and
construct sewers will be the pulling OF
n few levers and the pushing OF few
buttons, but that time is a long distance
in the future, and while we nave work
OF this character 10 do we should do
the best We can. The best we ca, do =,
present is TO admit assimilabIe Cauca-
sian people who are willing 10 work and
are not in the Objectionable classes point
ed ont in the law
And If you admi; this illiterate immi
grant IL will be a present benefit to the
country and good for the future of Ameri-
can manhood and wOmanhood, else the
evidence OF the past cannot be relied
upon. IL is the evidence of the ages that
The race is forever being nourished at the
bottom and forever dying out at the top.
Il Is the law OF nature
Hound to Learn.
This honest iliterate will thirst for
earning. aud II possible he will drink at
he fountain or knowledge. In any event
he will have children. For that the Iowly
md illiterate are proverbial. 1t is one
# Gods great blessings ON the race. If
he father cannot have learning the chill
ren may and will have it, and If they do
lot make the very best use OF It, the ex-
'erience of the past is again at fault.
All or the gentlemen OF this committee (
now that the sons OF such men have been !
he pillars OF the State, the captains of I
commerce and Industry. the bright stars
{ journalism and every branch of litera-
nre, and that, In short, in every profess (