The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-02-04
WILSON VETOES BILL
EXPRESSES REGRET FOR HAVING
TO RETURN IMMIGRATION
MEASURE UNSIGNED.
SAYS IT is TOO RADICAL
Chief Executive Asserts That Literaey
Test and Restrictions Which Accom-
pany It Constitute Radical Change
In Policy of the Nation.

pany II Constitute Radical Change
In Policy of the Nation.
Washington, Jan. 30.-The immigra-
tion bill was vetoed on Thursday by
President Wilson in the following mes
sage to congress:
'It is with unaffected regret that
find myself constrained by clear con-
viction to return this bill without my
signature. Not only do l feel it to be
a very serious matter to exercise the
power of veto in any case, because 1t
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 liability to error can
take without great hesitation, but also
because this particular bill is in so
many important respects admirable,
well conceived and desirable. Its en-
actment into law would undoubtedly
enhance the efficiency and improve the
methods of handling the important
branch Of the public service to which
1t relates, but candor and sense of
duty with regard to the responsibility
so clearly imposed upon me by the
Constitution in matters of legislation
leaves me no choice but to dis
sent.
In two particulars of vital conse-
quence this bill embodies a radical de-
parture from the traditional and long
established policy of this country, a
policy in which our people have con-
ceived the very character of their gov
ernment to be expressed, the very mis-
sion and spirit of the nation in respect
of its relations to the peoples of the
world outside their borders 1t seeks
to all but close entirely the gates of
asylums which always have been open
to those who could find nowhere else
the right and opportunity of constitu-
tional agitation for what they con-
ceived to be the natural and inaliena-
able rights Of man; and it excludes
those to whom the opportunity of ele-
mentary education has been denied,
without regard to their character, their
purposes, or their natural ca
pacity.
Restrictions like these, adopted
earlier in our history as a nation,
would have very materially altered the
course and cooled the humane ardors
Of our politics. The right of political
asylum has brought to this country
many 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 our
public councils. 1t is impossible for
me to assent to it in the form in which
it is here passed.
"The literacy test and the tests and
restrictions which accompany it con.
stitute an even more radical change in
the policy Of the nation. Hitherto we
have generously kept our doors open
to all who are not untitled by reason
of disease or incapacity for self-sup-
port or such personal records and ante
cedents as we're likely to make them a
menace to our peace and order or to
the wholesome and offensive relation
ships of life. In this bill it is proposed
to turn away from tests of character
and of quality and impose tests which
exclude and restrict; for the new tests
here embodied are not tests of quality
or of character or of personal fitness,
but tests of opportunity.
"If the people of this country have
made up their minds to limit the num-
Der of immigrants by arbitrary tests
and so reverse the policy of all the
generations of Americans that have
gone before them, it is their right to
do so. | am their servant and have
no license to stand in their way. But
| do not believe that they have. | re-
spectfully submit that no one can
quote their mandate to that effect.
Has any political party ever avowed
policy of restriction in this funda-
mental matter, gone to the country on
1t and been commissioned to control
this legislation? Does this bill rest
upon the conscious and universal as
sent and desire of the American peo-
pie? doubt it. 1t is because l doubt
it that make bold to dissent from it.
l am willing to abide by the verdict,
but not until it has been rendered. Let
the platforms of parties speak out upon
this policy and the people pronounce
their wish. The matter is too funda-
mental to be settled otherwise.
Il have no pride of opinion in this
question. am not foolish enough to
profess to know the wishes and ideals
of America better than the body of her
chosen representatives know them. l.
only want instructions direct from
those whose fortunes, with ours and
all mems, are involved.
(Signed)