The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-22
THE IMMIGRATION BILL.

Last week President Taft
vetoed the Dillingham-Burn I'm
migration Bill because it con-
tanned a provision imposing an
educational test upon foreigners
seeking admission to this coun-
try. A few days ago the Senate
re-enacted it over his veto, but the
House refused to concur and sus-
tanned the Presidents veto by a
vote of 213 to Ia.
The advocates Of this Bill be-
lieve that the imposition of a
literacy test requiring every
adult immigrant to be able to
read and write some language or
dialect will result in bringing
into the United States a better
class of immigrants. They seem
to overlook the fact that this pro-
vision will exclude a large num-
Der Of otherwise desirable immi-
grants men and women who,
because of the peculiar conditions
existing in their native countries,
have had no opportunity to Sc
cure even the rudiments of an edu-
cation Their contention is based
upon the false assumption that
because an alien is able to read
and write, he is, therefore, a more
desirable accession to the popula-
ton of this country than one who
cannot do so. But is not an
illiterate man who is mentally,
morally and physically sound a
far more desirable citizen than
one who is an intellectual giant
but moral pigmy?
Everyone will agree with the
advocates of this measure that
undesirable immigrants, should
not be allowed to enter at our
ports; but existing laws, if prop
erly enforced, are sufficient to
insure the exclusion of all who
are vicious, diseased or otherwise
untitled to become good citizens.
All other things being equal, edu-
Gated immigrants are the most
desirable; but education alone is
not a substitute for radical de-
fects Of character nor will it in
sure a progeny above reproach.
In years gone by, thousands Of
immigrants who could not pass
the proposed literacy test have
been admitted to this country
and they and their descendants
have proved upright and loyal
citizens Many Of these aliens
took advantage Of the education
al opportunities afforded them in
this new land, and their children
compare very favorab1y with
others in their intellectual attain
ments.
The imposition of a literacy test
is, therefore Illogical step
in the wrong direction as far as
the attainment Of the proposed
need is concerned. IL put into eff
feet it will admit many educated
undesirables, but keep out many
who are otherwise well fitted for
American citizenship. What this
country needs most is not the
suppression of immigration, but
it's regulation. There has been
very little rational supervision Of
immigrants after they are per-
mitted to land. They are allowed
to go where they please, and no
attempt is made to distribute
them over the country by direct
ing them to localities where they
are needed. They congregate in
the larger cities as a general rule,
instead of going to the smaller
towns and country districts where
laborers are in demand. In the
West, for instance, there is a
dearth Of good workmen and
it proper measures were adopted
thousands of immigrants would
be sent to the western parts of
the country where opportunities
for remunerative work are more
numerous than in the East.
The strongest advocates of the
immigration Bill are the labor
unions who do not want any addi-
tions to the ranks of the work
ingmen. They did all they could
to secure the passage Of this
measure. Many of those who
pleaded most strongly for it
were the sons Of immigrants who,
if the proposed test were in force
when their forefathers applied
for admission, would not now
be enjoying the rights of citi-
zenship. The efforts of the labor
unions were seconded by a num-
Der Of anti-Catholic organize
lions, chiefly from Massachusetts
and Georgia, who are well aware
that many of those who would be
excluded by the provision of this
Bill come from Catholic countries
where they have been prosecuted
on account of their religion, and
allowed only the most meagre, if
any, educational opportunities.
Mr.. Taft deserves great credit