The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-02-12
ALIENS MUST READ.
IMMIGRATION LAW WITH LITER.
AcY CLAUSE is SURE TO BE
PASSED BY CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT WILL SIGN IT
6outherners Generally and Organized
Labor Favor the Measure and the
House Committee Recon-
nends Its Enactment
ey GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washingtcn.-By May i next It Will
be impossible for any adult allen to
enter the United States for the pur-
is able to read. Congress soon will
pass and the president will sign an
immigration restriction bill which will
shut out illiterate foreigners.
The reason for the positive state
nent that congress will pass and the
president will sign an immigration re-
sGiction bill containing the illiteracy
test clause Is that 1t is known definite
ly that great majority OF the mem
bers OF congress are in favor OF the
measure and that Mr.. Wilson, Judg-
Ing by what he has said in the past
on the same subject, also favors the
enactment OF such legislation.
Pressure Is being brought to bear
to 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.
ly 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
ed admission TO this country.
Representative Burnett OF Alabama,
chairman OF the committee on imml-
grafton and naturalization has submit
ted on behalf OF the majority OF his
committee report favorable TO the
passage OF the bill virtually as it
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
va VdfIOuS COMMUNICATIONS
Favored by southerners.
There are some curious things I'M
DERIVING this proposed immigration re.
stricting measure. There is a feeling
In Washington that many OF the north
ern representatives In congress- wish
the bill to pass and yet feel they must
vote against 1t. II is said that In It's
Initiative 1t Is a 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 tho southerrers are OF
old American stock and seemingly Il
IL taken for granted that Americans
OF this stock will look with equanim.
1,y on the exclusion OF illiterate
aliens
This bill, or one very much like Il,
1t will be remembered. was passed
by the senate and house last year and
vetoed by Mr.. Taft. The senate
passed It over the veto by more than
two-thirds vote. bat the house up
held Mr.. Taft's action by a narrow
margin
Pcrnicious Lobby Routed.
President Wilson's word OF wrath
Last summer that pernicous lobby.
inx WAS going on IN congress- not
oniy had its effect in disclosing
tho names OF the lobbyists. but
II has brought about All entirely new
condition OF affairs in this city. There
are no lobbyists ia Washington dur.
ing the discussion OF the antitrust
bills They have been barred by hints
which have the force OF an executive
order.
Washington fully expects that repre-
senia,ives OF tho great business inter
ests OF the country will come here TO
make themselves heard before the ju.
dietary aad interstate commerce com
mittees which were given charge OF
che antitrust bIils. Some or the busl-
ness men already are here, but there
are none of the marks NJ the old-time
lobbyists about them or about the law
yers whom they have brought With
them or sent aheaJ OF them TO plead
against come OF the provisions OF the
measures.
Old Washington residents and the
veteran members o; cougresS proba'
bly, will be unable 70 recognize any
Individuals In the descending hosts,
The o,d.timers, II they are to be found,
saust be searched for with long-dn.
lance telescope. Tho recent lobby In
quiry. although It's results IN some
respects were not what they might
have been. has been sufficient to shat
,er The iron nerves OF some OF the
Lobbyists OF other days. II IL believed
ia Washington that the antitrust
hearings will be- free from he scandal
1f tho old familiar methods OF exertiuy