The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-05
Some of the Arguments Ad-
yanced Against Proposed
Literacy Test
GREAT DEMAND FOR
SKILLED LABORERS
Tendency of immigration Is to Force
Demand for Skilled Labor With
out Corresponding Increase
in Skilled Labor
BY C. e. STEWART

Washington, February 4.-(Special)5-
The Burnett Dillingham; immigration bill
has had a stormy time in its passage
through the House and Senate to finally
become a law. but the sponsors for the
measure believe now that the end is in
sight. The literacy test has been the
chief bone of contention, but it is believed
10 be the best and most logical solution
of the question.
w. w. Husband, chief of the bureau of
investigation in the United States bureau
of immigration, told the members of the
Republican club, In New York the other
day, that the proper adjustment of the
immigrant labor supply to the demand
for such labor and the welfare of the
American workman was the chief immi-
grafton problem of the day, Mr. Husband
took the leading part in the discussion
during which the question was considered
from a dozen angles
CONGRESSMAN Frank Nye of Minnesota
was alone in opposing restrictive legisla-
tion. The other speakers were Congress-
man Benjamin K. Focht of Pennsylvania,
ex-Congressman William s. Bennett Of
New York, who was a member of the
commission which made thhree years
study of the problem, and Edward kei-
log Baird, who presided. Mr.. Bennett said
that as result of his investigations he
was satisfied that the number of fmmi-
grants should he restricted, but he joined
Congressman Nye in attacking the 'illit-
eracy test" which he characterized as
ridiculous and impossible of enforcement
Not Dumping Ground
Mr. Baird said that there was a popu-
lar impression among the uninformed
that America was dumping ground for
the scum of Europe. The exact reverse
was true he said, and 1t was in the main
the most desirable class which sought
our shores.
Mr. Husband referred to the attitude
taken by DR.. Eliot, president emeritus or
Harvard college, against the admission
Of unmarried men. Senator Dillingham;,
sponsor for the Senate immigration bill,
he said, had taken the same attitude. on
an average, Said Mr.. Husband, about
three fourths Of the new immigrants We're
males In 1900, he said, the census showed
that there were III males of foreign p1rth
In the country for every 100 females, and
in 1910 the ratio had increased to 129 to loo
The tendency of the men was not TO prinS
families here, he said.
The immigrants who have come 10 tue
country in recent years, said Mr.. Hus-
band. have been large city dwellers. very
few of them enter agricultural pursuits
and IS per cent had gone to New YORK
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey
and Connecticut. Naturally, the enect
IN wages was one of the important
problems Nearly three-fourths of all
those who reported occupations on their
arrival were unskilled laborers, and IT was
a fact, declared the speaker, that tney
had nearly monopolzed the unskiiled Ia
Dor facilities in many industries and the
so-ealled semi-skilled occupations as well
Forces Demand for Skilled Labor
Skilled labor, said Mr.. Husband, thriyed
on what unsklled labor produced and the
tendency of immigration had been to-
force the demand for skilled labor with
out furnishing a corresponding increase IN
that labor Mechanical devices which
could be operated by immigrants who
could be obtained for t1.50 day, a wage
which seemed princely to them, he added,
here steadily pulling to lower econom-
IcaI level the occupation that but yester-
day Welded an American income to an
American family.
.Of course an embargo on inventive
genius is not conceivable" said Mr.. Hus-
hand In conclusion, "and improved and
new machinery will continue to usufp
the field of skilled artsanship, but whiie
the introduction of new machinery can
not be regulated, the influx of alien labor
can be controlled"
Congressman Nye aimed most oil ms
shafts at the iiteracy test and said that
foreigners should not be excluded because
they had not been able to obtain the adj
vantages abroad which this country could
give them He said that the, poor OF the
country was its safeguard and chareed
that II was the educated and clever men
who made fortunes overnight by gani-
bling in the stock exchange or sellins
fake mining stock and undermining the
moral strength of the country
..The educational system of the cour-
try is top heavy. 1t has no moral basis
on which to found citizenship" said Mr.
Eys. "Our great educational system is
not one that emphasizes Righteousness.
It il the college graduate or high school
graduate who goes out not to aon
strength to this republic, but to weaken
H. II a radical law to restrict immigra-
ton is necessary, then there is some
thing wrong with our civilization. All