New-York tribune., 1910-12-21
THE LITER4CT TEST

Although the members of the United
States Immigration Commission appear
to agree that the supply of unskilled
foreign born labor is excessive when
considered from the economic point of
view and that of assimilation. they are
lot in unison as to the methods to be
adopted for reducing the volume. They
have suggested several. With one eX-
ception the wisdom Of selecting any OF
these has been left to the decision of
Congress \ majority of the commits
sion favor the Iiteracy test. The mi
nority report. a paragraph in length. Is
confined to an objection to this recon-
mendation based on its illogical char
acter in view of the findings Of the com
mission.
1t is of interest to note what may he
said regarding the Iiteracy test as Il re-
Strictiye measure and from other points
of view As means of reducing the
flow of immigration there are indica-
tionS that it would decrease in effective
ness from the date of its adoption. for
the average mental capacity of the I'M
skilled laborers coming to us is equal TO
the task of meeting the demands of a
literacy test il they are required to meet
one The high percentage Of illiteracy
among immigrants is due to lack of
opportunity far more than to incapacity.
That an Italian should urge the adop-
ton of the lteracy test will surprise
some who have noted the great desire
Of men of that nationality to come here
and the percentage of illiteracy which
is found among them. The discussion
in Sundays Tribune regarding the sub
iect of restriction includes declaration
from Mr. Pecorini. an Italian leader Of
this city. that he favors such test be-
cause of the stimulation it would give
Ia educa ton in Italy. He is not alone
among thoughtful Italians in this city
who believe that this would be the eff
feet of the adoption Of. such Il ground
Of admission or exclusion. It might
prove to be ii missionary force in other
countries from which immigration is
flowing in large volume
The literacy test would not shut out
all criminals 1t is obvious that the
ability TO read and write is essential
for the perpetration of the form of
bIackmail styled BLACK Hand The
literate criminal is more dangerous to
society than his illiterate fellow. As a
restrictive measure pure and simple it
is a question whether or not this test
would accomplish the intention of its
supporters.
1t has. however. points in its favor
as an element in the process Of assimila-
tion. As Mr. PecCrini pointed out. the
illiterate is at the mercy of the unscru-
puIous Of his own race and is walled
away from the influence of American
environment One of the problems Of
New York City is that of bringing TO its
alien inhabitants knowledge of their
rights and those of the community
The opportunity to do this is greatly
restricted if the only channel Of com
is an unprincipled fellow
TO serve which conflict with those Of
the dependent illiterates or the public.
III is due to the ignorance and the illit-
eracy of the Italian laboring mass"
said Mr.. Pecorin. that the spirit of
"civic solidarity is so little developed
"among them. and that American au-
"thorities have trouble in making Ital-
.ianS understand some of the most
fundamental and necessary functions
'of good citizenship, like testifying be-