The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-02-06
PRESIDENT WILSON'S VETO.

s PRESIDENT WILSON'S VETO.
The Burnett immigration bill as it passed the House
has been vetoed by the President whether
rghtfully wrongfuly, the separate unions are to
judge.
In the issue of The Labor World for last week the
editor took himself to caution the over jealous
unonist who is apt to take action this measure
without weighing considering the Presidents
further is apt to be blinded to other
provisions in the bill by what is generally known IN
labor circles the 'literacy test -
The advice the editor gave at that time was as fol-
Before any action is taken this matter con-
carefully the Presidents and take the bill
whole under consideration Don't allow your local
to be by phrase Iteracy test the bill may
POSSIBLY contain very Objectionable features
To the editor the most Objectionable feature of the
bill that portion of it which practically closes the doors
asylum those seeking to political
ton foreign countries The bed rock which the
American nation founded that of keeping
door for those who forced to flee for safety
from foreign nation because of their attempts to
tablish through agitation otherwise government
somewhat along the lines planned by the United States
constitution. +,
With due regard for the bill President
Wilson rightfully protests. bill says President
seeks entirely the gates of asylum which
have always been to those who could find nowhere
the right and opportunity of constitutional agitation
what they conceived to be the natural and inalen-
able rights of and it excludes those to whom the
opportunities of elementary education have been denied
without regard character, their purposes,
their natural capacity.
Restrctions like these adopted earlier in history
IS nation would very materially have altered the:
and cooled the humane ardors of politics. The
right of political asylum has brought to this country
many of noble character, and elevated purposes
who was marked outlaw in his less fortunate
land, and who has yet become ornament to citi
4 zenship and to public councils
The children ssd the compatriots of these usrious
Americans must seA1d amazed to the representatives
their nation resolved in the fullness of
fona strength and at the maturity of great nsu
luons to risk turning such men back from shores
ithout test of quality purpose. It is difficult for
believe that the full effect of this feature of the
lbll realized when it framed and adopted, and
lit is impossible for to assent to it in the form in
(which it is here cast"
AS to the teracy test the editor has but little say
such test has been endorsed several conventions
1.-THE American Federation of Labor and the various
AFederaon of Labor conventions. immigration should
a restricted Asiac immigration should be prohibted
whether the 'tegacy test" is the best way restrict
European immigration is open for discussion and
honest difference of opinion may take place. :7:>:
In commenting upon the literacy test embodied in
the Burnett bill January 1914 less person than
Jane Addams whose good judgment on most questions
of this kind is worthy of close attention. follow
ing to after all teracy is neither char
acer of ability it is merely index of the educa.
tonal system of the community in which man has been
reared. The eracy will always work in favor Of
the from the city and discriminate against the man
from the country On the face of it, it would safer
to admit sturdy from the mountains Calabra
than sophisticated Neapoltan, familiar with re.
fined methods of police graft which made the Ca
NORA famous"
## Before communicating with the congressman from
this district to vote in favor of passing over the
Presidents veto, consider carefully whether the
American Labor movement afford to go on record
in favor of passing bill which is a great deal more
than hteracy test and may prove dangerous thing