Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-29
WILSON HOLDS ABC
Is NOT A FAIR TEST,
YETOES ALIEN BILL.
President Declares Not Sure Amer
leans Want to Reverse Policy
Of Generations of Coun-
trymen.
EFFORT OVERRIDE PRESIDENT
Friends Of Measure Will Attempt to
Pass It, but Opponents Say Two
Thirds Vote Impossible.
CHIEF STRUGGLE IN THE HOUSE


WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-Presi-
dent Wilson vetoed the immigration
bill today and sent q special message
to congress saying he disapproved
the measure because OF the literacy
test and other restrictive tests which
vt proposed as a condition of admis-
sion of immigrants to the United
states.
President wilson's message delivered TO
the house says in part:
1T is with unaffected regret that find
myself constrained by clear conviction 20
return this bill CH. r.. COCO, an act TO
regulate the immigration Of aliens to and
the residence of aliens in the United
states), without my signature.
Closes Right of Asylum.
"In two particulars OF vital conse-
auence this bill embodies a radical de-
parture from the traditional and long
established policy of this country, a pol
icy in which our people have conceived
the very character of their government
to be expressed. the very mission and
spirit of the nation in respect of It's re-
lations to the peoples OF the world out
side their borders. 1t seeks to AL but
close entirely the gates OF asylum which
have always been open 70 those who
could find nowhere else the right and
opportunity of constitutional agitation
for what thew conceived to be the nat
ural and inalienable rights OF men, and
it excludes those to whom the opportuni-
ties of elementary education have been
denied without regard to their character.
their purposes or their natural capacity.
Restrictions like these adopted earlier
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 for
tunate land, and VINO has yet become an
ornament to our citizenship and to our
citizenship and TO our public councils.
Restriction Instead of Selection.
1.-THE literacy test and the tests and re-
strictions which accompany It constitute
an even more radical change in the policy.
of the nation. Hitherto we nave eenet-
ously Kept our doors open TO all who
were not unfitted by reason OF disease or
incapaclty for self-support or such per-
sonal records and antecedents as were
likely to make them a menace 10 our
peace and order or to the wholesome and
essential relationships OF life. In this bill
it is proposed to turn away from tests
OF character and of quality and to impose
tests which exclude and restrict; for the
new tests here embodied are not tests of
quality or OF character or of personal
f,tress. but tests OF opportunity. Those
who come seeking opportunity are not to
be admitted unless they have already had
one OF the chief of the opportunities they
seek-the opportunity of education. The
object OF such provisions is restriction,
not stSectiOn.
People HsEe Not Spoken.
"If the people OF this country have
made up their minds TO limit the number
Of immigrants by arbitrary tests and so
reverse the policy OF generations of Amer
leans who have gone before them 1t is
their right 10 do so. 1 am their servant
and have no license to stand In their
way. But do not believe that they have.
] respectfully submit that no one can
quote their mandate to that effect. Has
any political party ever aNowed
policy OF restriction in this fundamental
matter, gone to the country on II and
been commissioned to control its legisla-
ton? Does this bill rest upon the con-
scious and universal assent and desire of
the American people? doubt II. 1t is
because 1 doubt It that make bold TO
dissent from It. 1 am willing to abide
by the verdict. but not until It has been
rendered, until the platforms of parties
speak out upon this policy and the people
pronounce their wish. The matter is too
fundamental to be settled otherwise"
VIII Come Up in One Week.
The reading Of the message evoked ap-
plause on the democratic side and from
some republicans.
"At the proper time" said Representa-
tive Burnett. chairman OF the immIgra-
tion committee. II shall move a recon
sideraion Of the vote by which the bill
passed the house and that It be passed
over tho presidents veto. 1 do not de-
sfre snap Judgment on anybody. No one
who favors this bill has had any tips
when this message would come I'm. The
message in itself I'm It's four corners,
gives good reason why the bill should
become law"
The veto message was referred to the
immigration committee from which
Chairman Burnett said he would ask TO
have report to the house one week
from today. The veto will not como be-
fore tho senate until it has been acted
A.