Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-07-17
TRY UTERACY TEST
THIS PLAN BEING URGED AS A
CORRECTIVE MEASURE TO
IMPROVE IMMIGRATION.
LOWER CLASSES CONE TO STATES
Wage and Corresponding Mode Of
Living-Steamship and Railroad
Cos. Fight Proposed Law.

Cos. Fight proposed Law.
1t is because of the change in the
character of the European immigra-
ton we have been getting during re-
cent years that the literacy test Is be-
ing urged as corrective.
Now there are just as fine people in
the countries Of southern and eastern
Europe as in the nations Of north
western Europe, but we do not get
many of them among our immigrants.
From the northwestern countries we
got good average class of people but
in southern and eastern Europe there
is wider gulf, socially and economic
ally, between the higher and lower
classes and, as general proposition,
people Of the higher classes are well
content to remain where they are and
it is mostly only the lower classes
that emigrate to this country.
Moreover, these immigrants are &C.
customed at home to an extremely low
scale of wages and living. They are
largely and inherently illiterate and
lacking in aspiration. Sentimental
ties are strong with them and it is not
their intention in emigrating to found
a new home or better their condition,
Intellectually, socially or politically,
but to sell their labor (for which they
could get only pittance at home)
cheap in land of high-priced labor
and, by living together and maintain
ing their own low standard Of living,
to save sufficient surplus from few
years work to make their position in
the native land more comfortable and
easy. Obviously, this is not desir-
able class OF immigration and it pre-
sents a serious industrial problem.
immigration statistics show that the
illiteracy of immigrants from southern
and eastern Europe Is twelve times as
great as that from northwestern Eu-
rope, which demonstrates wherein the
literacy test would be effective. The
literacy test is not urged as being a
necessary or fair requirement in itself.
Because man cannot read or write
does not necessarily prove his unde-
STABILITY; many may never have had
the opportunity to learn, whereas
here, either they or their children
might learn. But most of the unde
sirable immigration comes from south
ern and eastern Europe and most oil
the immigration from southern and
eastern Europe is illiterate. So there's
the answer; it appears to be prac
teal means to desired end.
The literacy test, excluding adult
males unable to read or write in one
language or dialect, was included In
the immigration bill introduced in the
senate by Dillingham; in August, 1911
This bill contained legislation recon-
mended by congressional immigra
ton committee, appointed in February
1907, which had Investigated .condi
tions at home and abroad for -four
years.
The bill finally passed both the
house and the senate by large MAORI
ties on January 30 and February l
1913. But President Taft vetoed 1t
basing his objection on the imposition
of Iiteracy test. The bill was re
passed in the senate over the presi
dents veto and in the house Lacked
only five votes Of securing the neces
sary two-thirds.
Besides the literacy test, the bill
also contemplated many other changes
in the. laws and regulations pertain
ing to immigration. There was opel
opposition from the steamship com
panies and 1t Is said the bill was ais,
opposed by railroads and other inter
ests desiring the cheapest labor. How
ever, those who opposed the bill 70
one reason or another, found the III
eracy test an embarrassing point Of
which to hang their opposition. 1t 1
understood another immigration bill
including the literacy test, will be In
troduced In the present congress.