Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-02-12
ALIENS MUST READ
,,Mm,eaATIoN LAW WITH LITER
AcY CLAUSE is SURE TO BE
PASSED BY CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT WILL SIGN 1T
eovtherners Generally and Organized
Labor Favor the Measure and tbs
House Committee Recon-
NERDS Its Enactment.
sv GEORGE CLINTON.


Oa tr,nossible for any adult alien to
onter the United States for the pur-
nose of becoming a citizen unless he
is able to read. Congress soon VIII
mass and the president will eign an
immigration restriction bill which will
ahut out illiterate foreigners.
The reason for the positive state
nent that congress will pass and the
president will sign an immigration re-
striction bill containing the illiteracy
test clause is that 1t Is known dehnlte-
" that a great majority OF the mem
hers of congress are in favor OF the
measure and that Mr.. Wilson. judg-
tng by what he has said in the past
on the same subject, also fayors the
enactment of such legislation.
Pressure is being brought to bear
10 have the immigration bill taken up
early in February and pressed to
passage. This restriction bill is al
most identical with the one which
passed the house and senate last year
and which President Taft vetoed.
Arrangements are being made for
consideration OF the measure. A rule
Is to be asked limiting debate to seven
hours on each side. This means that
the IA hours will be given over large
" to the discussion of the literacy
clause OF the bill which provides that
no alien over sixteen years OF age
who is unable to read shall be grant.
cd admission to this country.
Representative Burnett of Alabama.
chairman Of the committee on immi-
grafton and naturalization. has submit
ted on behalf of the majority OF his
committee report favorable to the
passage of the bill virtually as II
stands. There are three minority re-
ports, one signed by Representatives
SABBATH Of Illinois and Goldfogle OF
New York, one by Representative
Moore OF Pennsylvania, and one by
Representative Johnson OF Washing.
ton. The objections to the bill entered
by the minority members are based
on various considerations.
Favored by southerners.
There are some curious things uD-
DERIVING this proposed immigration re-
stricting measure. There Is a feeling
in Washington that many of the north
the bill to pass and yet feel they must
vote against IT, II is said that In Its
initiative It Ia southern proposition
Members of the house from the south
ern states have no reason to fear that
they will endanger their seats by vot
ing against 1t. The constituents OF
virtually all the southerners are OF
old American stock and seemingly II
ia taken for granted that Americans
of this stock will look with equanim
ity on the exclusion of illiterate
aliens.
This bill, or one very much like II
It viii be remembered, was passed
by the senate and house last year anc
vetoed by Mr.. Taft. The senate
passed It over the veto by more thar
a two-thirds vote, but the house up
held Mr.. Taft's action by a narrow
margin.
PernleIous Lobby Routed.
President Wilson's word OF wratf
last summer that pernicious lobby
ing was going on In congress mo-
only had its effect In disclosin,
the names OF the lobbyists. bu
it has brought about an entirely new
condition Of affairs in this city. There
are no lobbyists in Washington dur
Ing the discussion of the anti-trus
bills They have been barred by hint
which have the force OF an executive
order.
Washington fully expects thatlrepre
Sentatives Of the great business inter
ests Of the country will come here t
make themselves heard before the ju
dietary and Interstate. commerce com
mittees which were given charge o
the antitrust bills Some of the busi
ness men already are here. but Their,
are none Of the marks of the old-tim
lobbyists about them or about the Law
yers whom they have brought witt
Ohem or sent ahead of them to plea
against some of the provisions OF tn
measures.
Old Washington residents and tn
veteran members OF congress probs
oily VIII be unable to recognize an
individuals in the descending hosts
Ine old-timers, u they are to be found
must be searched for with long-dii
lance telescope. The recent lobby II
curry although its results In som
respects were rot what they Nigh
nave been. has been sufficient to sha
yer the iron nerves of some OF tn
lobbyists Of other days. II is believe
III washington that the anti-trus
hearings will be free from the scanda
VI the old familiar methods OF exertin
unoue influence on individual COMM
Tee members.
Business Men Welcome.
II Is plain from what has been sal
u the vicinity of the White Hous
mat President Wilson desires that rel
resentatives Of the commercial int
ests OF the country shall come t
"ashington and present to the con
"iieemen their side OF any case II