Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-28

= departure from the traditional and
! long established policy of this country,
| a policy in which our people have con-
| ceiYed the very character of their gov
ernment TO be expressed, the very mis-
| sion and spirit of the nation in respect
/ 10 its RELATIONS to the peoples of the
world outside their borders. 1t seeks
| 10 all but close entirely the gates of
| asylum which have always been open
! to those wS1o could find nowhere else
the right and opportunity of consti-
| tutlonal aviation for what they con-
| ceived To be the natural and inalien-
able rights of men; and it excludes
those to whom the opportunities 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 ardor of our
| policies.
The right of political asylum has
| brought TO this country many q man
| of noble character and elevated pur-
/ pose who was masked as an outlaw
in his own less fortunate land. and
who has yet become an ornament to
our citizenship and to our public coun-
ellis.
| Effect Not Realized
Inc children and the companions
| or 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 in
/ sutuuons, TO risk turning such men
back from our shores without test of
quality or purpose. 1t is difficult for
me TO believe that the full effect of this
feature of the bill was realized when
/ 1t was framed and adopted, and il is
impossible for me to assent to il in the
form in which il is here cast.
! Inc Hteracy test and the tests and
restrictions which accompany il, con-
stitute an even more radical change in
the policy of the nation. Hitherto we
/ have generously kept our doors omen
to all who were not untitled bv rea-
son of disease or incapacity for self
support or such personal records and
antecedents as were likely TO make
them menace to our peace and order
/ or TO the wholesome and essential re-
Iauonshlps 0f life. In this bill it is
proposed to turn away from tests of
character and of quality and to i'm
| pose tests which exclude and restrict:
for the tests here embodied are not
I tests OF quality or of character or of
/ personal fitness, but tests of opportun-
! ity. Those who come seeking oppor-
tunity are not to be admitted unless
/ they have already had one of the
chief of the opportunities they seek
the opportunity of education. The OBJ
I Ject or such provisions is restriction,
not selection.
\ Political Issue
If the people of this county have
made up their minds TO limit the num-
Der OF immigrants by tributary tests
and to reverse the policy of all the
generations of Americans that have
gone before them, it is their right TO do
so. l am their servant and have no
license to stand in their way. But 1 do
not believe that they have.
Il respectfully submit that no one
can quote their mandate to that ef-
feet. Has any political party ever
aVowed policy of restriction in this
fundamental matter, gone to the coun-
. try on II and been commissioned TO
control its legislation? Does this bill
rest upon the conscience and universal
assent and desire of the American peo-
pie? / doubt it. 1t is because 1 doubt
1t, that 1 make bold to dissent from
II. am willing to abide by the YER
dict, but not until it has been render
ed. Let the platforms of parties sneak
out upon this policy and the people
pronounce their wish. The matter is
too fundamental to be settled other
wise.
Il have no price of opinion of this
question. l am not foolish enough to
profess knw the wishes and ideals
of America better than the body OF
her chosen representatives know them.
only want instruction direct from
those whose fortunes with ours and
all mems are involved"
May Seek Repassage
Other business in the House was
suspended while the Presidents mes
sage was read. Speaker Clark confer
red at once with Representative Bur
nett and SABBATH who had been lead
ers In the work of the bill. Mr. Bur-
nett wants to bring the veto up for a
vote on repassage a week from to-
morrow; Mr.. SABBATH wanted it to come
mp next Tuesday. Mr.. Burnett favors
the Dill; Mr.. SABBATH opposes ii. a day
/ probably viii be set aside for debate
/ before vote is taken.
| The reading of the veto evoked ap-
plause on the Democratic side and
from some Republicans.
Representative Burnett said he
would move that the House pass the
bill over the Presidents veto. II do