The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16
ILLITERACY NOT A FAIR TEST.

undesirability citizen, or 1t may be evidence
of lack of opportunity even of practical i'm
possibility OF it's attainment.
In discussing the question of the value of
the literacy test as applied to immigrants the
first Haay be left out of consideration as mental
deiinquents are covered by other clauses. To
reach decision to the others we must know
the conditions in the countries from which the
Immigrant has come. the condition of the COM
munty in which he resided and his own place
in the industrial and social life OF that commun-
ty An immigrant who is iIiiterate because he
does not wish to be otherwise, because he does
care to increase his efficiency, his standard
of living or his value to society is undesirable.
a man who cares nothing for ordinary educa-
ton and refuses the opportunity acquire it, will
not make a sapd citizen. is not wanted IN this
country and is not worthy of consideration. He
can make no plea Of seeking asylum of
Industrial liberty and land OF opportunity. He
does not want opportunity sufficiently to pre-
pare himself for IL when 1t offers In his own
He is really seeking place where he can live
TIC issISt amount VI WpTE anu the IeaSt pre-
paration for success. Exceptions may be found,
Of course. but no one will object, we take It, to
the general application of the rule. On the
other hand, immigrant who has lacked the
opportunity for educating himself he has
lacked the opportunity for lettering his
dition In every way In his own country. is nof
necessarily undesirable because he Is unable to
read or write More YrenuentIv Ia the contrary
the truth. In, many countries of Southern
Europe the opportunity to acquire the elements
Eos an education are so inferior to those In the
United States that in the case of the vast
jority of the people of the class who become i'm
migrants 1t might be said to be negligible. In
some instances the authorities put obstacles IN
their paths They prefer to keep them down.
1t Is for this reason frequently. that these peo-
pie irnnigrate. They do not argue out TO them
selves that they wish to go to the United States
to acquire education. but they do go to
secure larger opportunities for themselves and
for their children and to secure Tor them al,
the good things God Almighty has put on earth
for and desire for which he has implanted
in every heart. Once in this country and given
the opportunity for an education they will see
that their children get It, whether they them
selves do not. glance at the roster Of
the public schools OF the centers of immigrant
settlement will prove It. In some countries In
which there Is no disposition 10 prevent the
people from learning to read and write. the
opportunity is nevertheless lacking. In some
countries there are communities in which tina
Inhabitants, many of them. are unable,
through no fault of their own. to acquire the
art. being too busily engaged in making a living.
test which did not take these facts into
consideration would be an unfair test and In
few cases would II be possible to make the dis
Itnction. It might be possible. though hardly de-
sirable to discriminate as to countries. but not
as to communities and certainly not as to in.
divlduals
Apply the iiliteracy test to all and the result
will be the exclusion OF many who are as de-
sirable as potential citizens those who can
read and write in their language along
with the, exclusion Of the few who are unfat.
The Immigration question Is serious one.
This country is and should be prepared to re-
ceve those seeking asylum. In the early years
those subjected to political and religious perse
the number of these arriving shores
has decreased. but in their stead are coming
many who are denied their natural rights to
make a living and Improve their condition and
these ALSO should DO welcomed TO the new
world of opportunity. The necessity exists.
however. for barring the undesirable, increasing
yearly in number and in the variety of their
natonalities. We can assimiiate only a GER
tain number with comfort to ourselves and
many we cannot assiniiate without danger at
all account either OF racial characteristics
! or moral degeneFacy mental deficiency
All these should be excluded now, and probably
the time win come when the number will have
/ to be- limited, whether they be otherwise desira-
bile or not. when that time comes the problem
win be comparatively easy our duty being
merely to put limit on the number allowed
TO be admitted. but for the present the work
! is OF discrimination and 1t is most din
cult one. That 1t will be solved or that 1t will
solve itself. we are confident. The hteracy test
however, appears to US to be unfair and de-
struetive of It's own purpose and it is to be
hoped that congress- win not pass 1t ever the
presidents vetn