The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-01-29
I RESIDENT OBJECTS TO TIE.
LITERACY TEST FOR ADJ
MISSION OF ALIENS
THIRD PRESIDENT
TO VETO MEASURE
Senate Leaders Insist There Will
De No Trouble in Repass;ng
the Bill.
tBy Associated Press,

tby Associated PrcsS.S
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-President
Wilson vetoed the immigration bill
today because of the literacy test for
admission OF aliens. His message was
referred to the house Immigration
committee. whose chairman, Repre-
sentative Burnett, will move next
Thursday that the measure be passed
. over the veto.
Much Informal discussion among
memDers Oh tue house ioiioweu re-
ceipts Of the veto, and there were
many who believed the two-thirds ma
1ority required to repass the bill could
not be procured. immigration bills
containing literacy tests were vetoed
by President Cleveland and by Presi-
denL Iaii, but both times faiieti OF
repassage.
Senate leaders insist there would be
no trouble In repassing the bill In the
upper house. That was done in the
Taft administration but the lower
house failed to muster q two.thirds
majority.
In his veto message President VIII
son told the house. which originated
the bill, that he had no pride of opin-
| lon on the question and that he was
not foolish enough to profess To
know the wishes and ideals OF Amer
lea better than the body Of her chosen
representatives know them" He ask
cd, however, whether the bill rested
upon the conscious and universal a..
sent and desire of the American peo-
DIE, . and painted cue .sa. that no nv;;iittii-
cal party ever had 'avowed q policy.
Of restriction IN. this Fundamental.
matter, gone TO the country on it-Hni.
beer commissioned to contro! its leR-'
isls /on." &. : = s: e7s ~
Itesident Wilson's message was as
follows:
1T Is with unaffected regret that
find myself constrained BY clear
conviction to return this bill III. r.
5000. AN Act to Regulate the Immi-
!, grafton OF Aliens to and the Residence
OF Aliens In the United Statcs) with
out my signature.
mot only do feel It to be serious
matter to exercise the power OF veto
IN any case. because 1t involves op-
posing the single judgment OF the
president to the judgment OF a ma
1ority OF both houses OF the congress-.
step which no man, who realizes his
own liability to error. can take with
out great hesitation. but also because
this particular bill Is in so many i'm
portant respects admirable. we'll con-
cetved md desirable.
Its enactment into law would un-
doubtedly enhance the efficiency and
| improve the methods Of handling the
important branch OF the public ser-
vice to which It relates. But capdor
and sense Of duty with regard to the
responsibility 80 clearly imposed up
on me by the constitution In matters
OF legislation, leave me no choice but
to dissent tt
I'm two particulars OF vital conse-
quence this bill embodies radical de-
parture from the traditional and long
established policy of this country,
policy In which our people have con-
ceived the very character Of their gov
0rnment to be expressed. the very
mission and spirit of the natiop In re-
spect OF fts relations to the people of
the world outside their borders. II
seeks to all but close entirely the
gates OF ASYLUM which have always
been omen to those who could find no
where els" the right and opportunity
nf constitutional ngitatfnn for what
thev cont:eived to be the natural and
fna!tenahle rights OF men: and It ex-
cludes those to whom the opportuni-
ties OF elementary education have
been denied. without regard to their
character. their purposes, or their
natnra, caphcity.
Restrlcti1ns like these ationted
| earlier In our history as nation
n'nn'd verv matAr'aiiv. have altered
fj'a cc"rsa ond cooled the i,,iman, or
d"rs of orr noiitics. The right of no
,tttcal naylnm has brought tn this
country fnanv man os noble cfarac-
ter and elevated nnrnose who was
n,Rrtad Re- an outlaw in hia own less
forfunate land. and who has vet he
come an. ornament tor nwr citizenship
ar6 tc our nnhiic t.hunciis.
"The children and the cnmnatrints
ne theaa jlInatrtOus An,aricanH mnst
stand amazed to nee the renrAaAnta.
tfvee ~ their nation rnw resolved. In.
! the fnllness OF ours ua,tonal strength
ard AZ the maturity of onr great In
Etjtpfinns IN r,ah turning sueh men
hack from our shores without feat OF
ruaiitv or nprnosa. It is ilifHnuit for
ma To bnIiaye that the fplI effect OF
this feature Sof the biIt was realiaeti
when It was framed ard adopted. and
It Jig fmpossihle for me. 10 assent 20