Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-01-24
READ OR KEEP OUT
THAT is WHAT UNCLE SAM "a
LIKELY SOON TO SAY TO
IMMIGRANTS.
BILL NOW is IN CONFERENCE
president Taft Probably VIII Sian
Measure That lie Designed to Es.
elude People From Some Parts
OF Southern Europe.
BY GEORGE CLINTON

ny GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Recently the senate
OF the United States passed an immi-
sration restriction bill and sent 1t
over to the house for approval. The
representatives changed the form of
tne Dill, passed 1t and sent 1t to con-
ference. 1t is believed that an agree
ment upon the provisions of the meas
ure VIII be reached by the two houses
ana that soon congress will pass It
anu SEND 1t to the president for his
signature or his veto.
1t Is understood that Mr.. Taft does
not entirely agree with the provi-
sions OF the measure In the form in
which 1t seems certain 1t finally will
DC approved by congress. The law
VIII contain a provision shutting out
from America all immigrants above
the age of sixteen years who are I'M
able to read. unless it can be proved
mat the aliens are fleeing from reli-
gious persecution.
While the president is said not to
be entirely sympathetic with the bill
u Is believed that In the near future
immigrants will be subjected to the
reading test before they can admitted
70 this country. The test will be in
the language which the immigrants
speak When the measure passed the
senate there was five to one vote in
favor of provision which would have
subjected immigrants to both reading
and writing tests. The house knock
ed out the writing provision and sent
the bill to conference.
Taft viii Sign II.
II Is the opinion of congressman
who have made inquiry into the matter
that the change of the form Of the IL
iiteracy test will not make much diff
ference. 1t is held that about SO out
OF every 100 persons who know how
to read also know how to write. 1t
seems finally to be assured that re-
strictive immigration measure will
find a place on the statute books in
the immediate future. for while Presi-
dent Taft is known to have some
doubts in the matter, the general be-
lief is that he will sign the bill
There Is no use to try to gloss over
the real reason why congress was will
ing to put the reading test into the
new immigration law The desire is
to keep out immigrants whom ex-
perience. 1t Is said, has proved to be
undesirable as class. and this means
the exclusion OF certain OF the south
Italians. certain of the Jews. certain
of the Poles, and men and women OF
other races among whom the per
centage of illiteracy Is high.
The steamship companies always
have been against "anti-immigration
laws" The reason for their opposi-
ton needs no explanation. Under the
proposed law rejected aliens will be
sent back to their native lands at the
expense of the steamship companies
which bring them over. The supposi-
ton is that the companies will on
their own behalf see to it that no one
is allowed on board who cannot go
through unstumblingly paragraph OF
his school reader.
Question Really Of Geography.
II congress could have done 1t, II
would have exempted from the illit-
eracy test immigrants from the north
ern European countries. but OF course
II could not do this. The issue, 80
far as geographical restriction" is
concerned, always has been avoided,
but when a thing Is perfectly plain,
denials and evasion are of no service.
Certain kinds of immigrants are not
wanted, and 1t is supposed that the IL,
literacy clause will keep them out
The opposition to the illiteracy
test has come during the years not
only from naturalized Americans who
do not like to see their homeland
kindred debarred from admission. but
from men and women of prominence
in the work Of the world and who are
descended from Immigrants" who
came to this country in the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries.
The provision of the bill which al
lows illiterate immigrants to enter
the country II they are trying to get
away from religious persecution opens
up the question of proof. In certain
countries the Jews are prosecuted on
and on. VIII an immigrant be allowed
to enter because he is In fear OF per
secution. fear based on past per
formance?" In other words. must the
persecution be open and active and
must man be actually fleeing from 1t
In order to be admitted to this country
without being asked to read his way
into It?
Wilson Silent on Cabinet.
Never within the memory OF the
members of congress oldest In serv-
ice has a president-elect been so .'seif
constrained" as is Woodrow Wilson
on the subject of prospective cabinet