The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-24
SECRETARY WILSON
WOULD BAR HINDU
LABORER FROM u. S
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crininaticn against any particular ooun-
try. He suggested also that perhaps all
immigrants intending to do manual labor
might well be subjected to a physical
test.
Secretary Wilson recommended that new
legislation should show the words Hindu
laborer" constitute distinct excluded
class, and he suggested amendments to
effectually close the "back door of conti-
mental United States which Hindus ana
some other classes of aliens are now at
tempting to make of the Philippines"
Term Indefinite
Declaring that the term Asiatie laborer
is too indefinite fr practical admnistra-
tive purposes, the secretary recommended
that new legislation define one as n ia
tive of any country or district or Island
adjacent thereto, situated east OF a line
composed of the Red. Mediterranean,
Aegan. Mormora, Black and Caspian seas.
the Caucasus and Ural mountains and the
Ural river with the exception or turkey
in Asia, but not to exclude aliens Whos@
immigration into, the United States Is reg
ulated by existing agreements a. ~ pass
ports.'
He suggests, however, that excepting
the whole of Turkey in Asia may be 60
ing too far or that even other Aslauc
countries might be included in the eX-
ception The boundary line suggested
is substantially that historically separat-
ing Asia from Europe but not the line
shown in modern maps.
Secretary Wilson did not express any
opinion as to whether any of the pend
ing bills would conflict with any treaties
That he says, is a matter for the state
department. He suggested. however, that
probably a distinction could be made as
to the gravity of the question between
the bills, contemplated and the exclusion
of Hindu laborers and of Asatic 1aborers
generally
The latter will be taken up by the
House immigration committee.
Explains Recommendations
Secretary Wilson later explained that
his recommendations. contained in let
ter made public by the House immigra-
ton committee. did not contemplate dis
turbing existing immigration arrange
ments with Japanese in any way but
were designed primarily to exclude Hin
dus who were coming in in great num-
bers to the Pacific coast. He said that
in view of the restrictions against Hindus
made by various British colonies, no pro-
test from Great Britain against the pro-
Chairman Burnett of the House immi-
grafton committee, to which the Wilson
letter was referred, later introduced a
resolution to provide for special rule.
already approved by the democrats of the
rules committee. to provide that imme-
6iately upon its adoption the Burton i'm
migration bill shall be considered in the
House from day to day except Wednes-
days. until finally acted upon.
The purpose is to have the immigra-
ton bill follow the postoffice appropria-
tion now about to be passed
The Burnett bill, virtually identical with
the measure vetoed by President Taft,
does not embody Asiatic exclusion as
proposed in the Raker resolution, but is
featured by the literacy test.
There is no necessity for any legisla-
ton so far as the Japanese are con-
cerned," said Mr.. Burnett tonight. "A
eentleman's agreement was made with
Japan in 1907 under which Japanese
coolies were to be kept out During the
fiscal year 1912 only 53s Japanese en-
tered this country. against 54s7 that were
deported or otherwise left the country.
The Hindu problem Is a great deal more
serious than the Japanese"