El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-28
Immigration,
BILL IS VETOED
Congress May Pass Measure
Over the Presi-
dents Head.
Continued From Page One).

duence this bill embOdies radical ue-
parture from the traditional and long
established policy of TINS country,
policy in which people have conceiNeu
the very character of their govern
ment to be expressed. the very mission
and spirit of the nation IN respect OF itS
relations to the peoples OF the Woflu
outside their borders. 1t seeks 10 an
but close entirely the gates OF asylum
which have always been open to those
who could find nowhere else the right
and opportunity of constitutional az
tatiOn for what they conceived TO pc
the natural and inalienable rights OIL
men; and it excludes those 10 WHOm
the opportunities. of elementary edu-
cation have been denied, without re.
gard to their character, their purposes
or their natural capacity.
Would Alter Nations Course.
Restrictions like these. adopted ear
lier in our history as a nation, would
very materially have altered the course
and cooled the humane ardOrs 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 vet become an ornament to our
citizenship and to our public councllS.
The children and the cOmpatrlOtS
of these illustrious Americans must
stand amazed to see the representa-
tives of their nation now resolved, in
the fullness OF our national strength
and at the maturity of our great lnstl-
buttons, to risk turning such men back
from our shores without test OF quality
or purpose. It is difficult for me to
believe that the effect of this feature
of the bill was realized when it was
framed and adopted. and it is lmpos-
sible for me TO assent to it in the
form in which it is here cast
Opposes Litcracy Test
tests
restrictions which accompany if con-
stitute an even more radical change
in the policy of the nation hitherto
we have generously kept our doors
open to all who were not untitled by
reason Of disease or incapacity Tor
self-support or such personal RECORDS
and antecedents as were likely TO make
them a menace 10 our peace and ORDER
or to the wholesome and essential re-
lationships of life. In this b1H II is
proposed to turn away from tests OIL
character and Of quality and TO I'M
pose tests which exclude and restrict
for the new tests here aemDodled are
not tests of quality or of character OF
of personal fitness, but tests of oppor-
tUnity. Those who come seeking OPP
portunity are not to be admitted un-
less they have already had one OF the
chief opportunities they seek-tne OPP
pOrtunity of education. the ODJecl OL
such provisions is restriction, not selec-
ton.
What Does Nation Wish!
eff the people Of this country nave
made IN their minds to limit the NUM-
Der of immigrants by arbitrary tests
and so reverse the policy of all the
generations OF Americans that nave
zone before them, it is their right to
do so. I am their servant and have no
license to stand in their way. But 1 90
not believe they have. 1 respectfully
submit that no one can quote their
mandate to that effect. Has any pohtl-
cal party ever avowed a policy of re-
strictiou in this fundamental matter
gone to the country on it and be com
missioned to control its legislation
Does this bill rest upon the conscious
ness and universal assent and deslre
of the american people? 1 doubt it 1t
is because I doubt it that I make bold
to dissent from it.
VIII Abide BY Verdict.
ct am willing to abide by the verdict,
but not until it has been rendered Let
the platforms of parties speak out on
this policy, and the people pronounce
their wish. The matter is too 1unda-
mental to be settled otherwise
Il have no pride of opinion on tins
question. I am not foolish enough TO
profess to knOw-,the wishes and ideas
OF America better than the body of her
chosen representative know them
only want instruction direct from
those whose fortunes, with ours and all
mems, are involved"