United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1911-03-16
RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION
DISCUSSED BY CONGRESSMAN

RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION
DISCUSSED BY CONGRESSMAN
Continued from page L.
mand of the public been denied
Through what means and by the exer-
ton of what influence has the public
will been thwarted?
During the last session of Congress rep
resentatives of farmers organizations ap-
peared before committees of Congress
and urged the wisdom and necessity of
adopting such literacy test as will pro-
tect our country from the immigration
of countless hordes from southeastern
Europe, many of whom are not only
ignorant but of strong criminal tenden-
cies and antagonistic by birth and train
ing to the institutions of liberty and en-
lightenment which are the pride OF all
loyal Americans. The Immigration Com
mission, after investigating the subject
thoroughly, in the reports submitted to
this Congress, and published but few
days ago, recognize the correctness OF
the farmers contention in the following
language:
A majority of the commission favor
the reading and writing test as the most
feasible single method of restricting
undesirable immigration statement
of the immigration Commission, p. 4O)
A literacy test has at last been re-
1t is true that the test is not very
stringent. 1t only requires that aliens
16 years of age before their admission
to this country. shall be able to read
some language or dialect. Ii should be
more stringent. Yet it will be an i'm
provement on the present law, and Will
prevent the admission of many foreign
ers who are hopelessly ignorant and in
capacitated to either profit by or to sus-
tain our institutions.
The iliteracy of southeast Europeans,
including Russian. Portuguese. Bull
garian. Ruthenian, Roumanian, South
italian. and Lithuanian immigrants, in
1909 and 1910 ranged from 40 to 60 per
cent 1t follows that approximately half
of these immigrants, coming to our coun-
try In ever-increasing numbers every
year, would be excluded by literacy
test.
1t Is no answer to say that education
is not the sole test of desirable immi-
grants 1t is true that many of the most
dangerous immigrants would not be ex-
cluded by such test. but the fact re-
mains that while ignorance is not
crime it is an indication of lack OF
capacity on the part of the immigrant
to become assimilated in our population
The great struggle of the last half
century in the United States has been to
make education universal, to banish IL
lIteracy. More money has been expended
for this purpose than for any other. While
II may be impracticable to require test
of higher education for immigrants, it
is certainly true that the policy of ad-
hitting those who are totally illiterate
increases the burden of education on the
general public. while at the same time
lessening its benefits. The people OF the
United States have wanted this iegisla-
ton for % years. A similar provision
has passed the House of Representatives
or the Senate many times and has once
| been vetoed. The opposition to 1t claims
| that the present laws are already string
ent enough: that the proper develop
| ment of the country. its institutions. and
resources requires the admission OF
foreigners without further restraint; that
the demand for labor throughout the
United States. and especially for those
who will perform the lowest and most
mental service, is so great as TO make
necessary the bringing In OF ignorant,
low types Yet when we consider the
fact that those who would be excluded
by n llteracy test. II admitted to the
country would not perform such service.
hut would engage in petty businesses or
vagabondage in our great cities, already
overcrowdcd with the refuse OF Europe
when we consider the further fact that
such immigrants do not ms rule. be
come disseminated throughout the coun-
try. but gather in colonies In already
overcrowded communities, the argument
loses all it's force.
In yesterdays Star. paper pubilshed
In this city. appeared the announcement
in this language that 1t has already been
declared by the powers that be In Con
rress that no legislation of this char-
acter will be considered or passed dur
ing this session OF Congress;
The steamship companies. according
to Mr.. Gardner are being assisted IN
their fight against his bill by the brewers
OF the country. who. being anxious to
use cheap labor from Germany. are en-
deavoring TO arouse opposition to the
educational test on the part OF German
Americans.
He also stated that the National
Liberal immigration League recently