The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-03
JOAN OF ARG COULDN'T PASS LITERACY TEST Mother of Abraham Lincoln Couldn't Have Come In
 Under Burnett Bill. DONOVAN TAKES UP
 CAUSE OF FOREIGNER Quotes From President Wilson And Speaker Clark in
 Support of His
 Views.
Rv Our staff correapondent.)

By Our Staff Correspondent.)
 Washington. Feb. 3-Representative Jeremiah Donovan of Connecticut, de- tended good foreign immigrat ton against the lfteracy test in the i've minute debate on the Burnett bill. in the House, yesterday afternoon, quot ing President Wilson in his Philadel- pKia- speech: and also quoting Speaker Champ C1ark's statement, that 75 per cent. of our ancestors, the great ma iority of the stock that freed the coun- try from the British yoke, were ilht-5 crate.
 MT. Donovan took the ground that the country could not put up the bars to honest people because through no fault of their own they did not have the early opportunities that in this country they are able to give to their offspring.
 He pointed out that the members of the House who were most urgent for the bill came from sections that had the least foreign born population. He was applauded warmly by both sides of the House. He said in part:
 stMr. Chairman. to be practical for just a moment, the demand for tn1s literary test comes mainly from the part of the country that knows least of the foreign brother If this bill passes, it will pass by the votes of those members who have the, least for eign population within their states. The fact remains that where the for- eign population is large the chil- dren of foreign born parents make better average showing in the schools than the children of the native born. My educated friend from Ohio CMr. Fess) being a practical teacher. ought to welcome to this country the chil- acquiring an education often surpass the children of the native born. (Ap- pIause),
 s.Our President stated in Philade1- phia the other day that we ought to revere our ancestors, the people who made this country.
 .sOur Speaker stated at the same time that 75 per cent. of those people were illiterate. Yet they made the greatest country on earth, and the result of their action has affected ev- cry nation on earth in the direction of bettering their condition. That is the result of the earnest work of the |illiterates, many of whom were the early settlers of this country. Our President says we should revere our ancestors. He says further:
 ss T feel that it would be inconsistent with our historical character as a na- ton if we did not offer a hearty well come to every honest man and wo- man who comes to this country to seek a permanent home and opportun-
 
 ssThat is the language of our Presi- dent. This bill would keep out many honest men and women. If the mother of the greatest man that ever
 lived in this country, Abraham Lin coin, was an smigrant applying for admission at Ellis Island today, with this law in force, she would be re- fused admission, and my friend, the great educator from Ohio (NGr. Fess) would turn her from the shores that gave Lincoln to this country. He would turn from our shores Joan of her country, although she could neit1- CT read nor write. Would the gen. t1eman include in the Panama Canal bill a literacy test? Yet the 30, 000 were mostly foreigners and il1iterates-'' Although it is quite apparent that the Burnett bill will pass the House. by a small majority it is believed that an amendment offered by California dele gsa-es to amend it with section ex- cluding Asiastic 1aborers is going to be the rock upon which the bill un- doubtedly will go to pieces.
 Although the committee in charge of the bill pleaded that the bill was one to regulate immigration, and that an Asiastic exclusion bill would come up later the western members were obdurate and a test vote, which was taken in connection with an amend ment to Asiastic exclusion clause showed that enough votes can be mus tered to tack on the exclusion clause This clause, it is believed, will never be acceptable to the Senate, which will reflect the wish of the President and the Secretary of State who do not wish any exclusion legislation passed that will not be consistent with the nations treaty rights.
 ] The majority of the members op- posed to the 1iteracy test voted with the westerners in favor of the Asiastic exclusion.