Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-02-04
Immigration BILL
VETOED By WILSON
Message Explains Refusal to
Sign Measure.
PEOPLE DON'T FAVOR CLAUSE
President Declares That the Literacy
Test Provided in Act Is Radical
Departure From Nations
Policy.


Washington, Jan 30.-The immigra-
ton bill was vetoed on Thursday by
President Wilson in the following mes
sage to congress:
1T is my unaffected belief that
find myself constrained by clear con-
viction to return this bill without my
signature. Not only do I feel it to be
a very serious matter to exercise the
power Of veto in any case, because it
involves opposing the single judgment
Of the president to the judgment OF
the majority Of both houses Of the
congress, a step which no man who
realizes his own inability to error can
take without great hesitation, but also
because this particular bill is in so
many important respects admirable,
well conceived and desirable. It's en-
actment into law would undoubtedly
enhance the efficiency and improve the
lnethods Of handling the important
branch of the public service to which
it relates, but candor and sense OF
duty with regard to the responsibility
so clearly imposed upon me.
In two particulars Of vital conse-
-qlsRee this bill embodies a radical de-
parture from the traditional and long
Established policy of this country,
policy in which our people have con-
ceived the worry character OF their gov
eminent to be expressed, the very mis-
sion and spirit of the nation in re-
spect of its relations to the peoples Of
the world outside their borders. 1t
seeks to all bat close entirely the
gates of asylums which always have
been open to those who could find no.
where else the right and opportunity
of constitutional agitation for what
they conceived to be the natural and
inalienable rights Of man; and it ex-
cludes those to whom the opportu-
nifty of elementary education has been
denied. without regard to their char
acter, their purpose, or their natu,
raj capacity.
Restrictions like these, adopted
earlier in our history as a nation
would have very materially altered the
course and cooled the humane ardor
of our politics The right of political
asylum has brought to this country
many a man of noble character and
elevated purpose who was marked as
an outlaw in his own less fortunate
land. and who has yet become an orna
ment to our citizenship and to oul
public councils. 1t is impossible fol
me to assent to it in the form in which
it is here passed
The literacy test and the tests anC
restrictions which accompany it con
stitute an even more radical change il
the policy of the nation. Hitherto W,
have generously kept cur doors opeI
to all who are not untitled by reason
of disease or incapacity for self-sup
port or such personal records and ante
cedents as were likely to make them {
menace to our peace and order or Il
the wholesome and offensive relation
ships of life, in this bill it is proposed
to turn away from tests of chaTacte
and of quality and impose tests which
exclude and restrict; for the new testi
here embodied are not tests of qualit.
or of character or of personal fitness
but tests of opportunity.
IF the people of this country havt
made up their minds to limit the mum
Der of immigrants by arbitrary test
and so reverse the policy of all tn,
generations of Americans that hav,
gone before them, it is their right t.
do so. l am their servant and havr
no license to stand in their way. Blu
do not believe that they have. I re
spectfully submit that no one cal
quote their mandate to that effect
Has any political party ever avowet
a policy of restriction in this funds
mental matter, gone to the country o.
il and been commissioned to contrC
this legislation? Does this bill res
upon the conscience and universal as
sent and desire Of the American pee
pie? ! doubt it. It is because l doub
it that I make bold to dissent from i
I am willing to abide by the verdic
but not until it has been rendered, LIE
the platforms of parties speak out upo
this policy and the people pronounc
their wish. The matter is too fundl
mental to be settled otherwise
L have no pride of opinion in thi
question. I am not foolish enough t
profess to know the wishes and ideal
of America better than the body of he
chosen representatives know them.
only want instructions direct froI
those whose fortunes, with ours an
all mems. are involved.
(Signed)
WOODROW WILSON,"