The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-28
Special Message Sent Congress
Explaining Why Executive
Takes Action Which He Had
Declared He Would Take.
RESTRICTIVE CLAUSES
IMPROPER. HE HOLDS
Proposed Policy Would Be
Radical and Not Based Upon
Sound Principles, Is Declara-
tion of Chief Magistrate.


Wilson vetoed the immigration bill
today and sent a special message to
congress saying he disapproved the
measure because OF the literacy test
and other restrictive tests which u
proposes as condition OF admission
Of immigrants To the United states.
President Wilson's messngc. deliv-
cred To the house. was as follows:
1T is with unaffected regret that
find myself constrained by clear
conviction To return this bin OH. r.
GO6o; AN act tc regulate The immigrn-
tion Of aliens 10 and the residence Of
aliens IN the United statesb without
ms signature,
Not only do feel II 20 be sor-
iods matter to exercise the power OF
veto in any case. because II Involves
opposing the single Judgment of the
president to the judgment OF ma
iority Of both houses ~ the congress.
a step which no man who realizes
his own liability Go error can take
without great hesitation. but also be-
cause this particular bill Is In 20
many important respects admirable,
well conceived and desirable
Its enactment into law would un-
doubtediy enhance the efficiency and
Improve the me,ha'Sq OF handlins the
important branch 80 the public scrv-
irc 10 which u relates. iiut candor
ana sense Of duty with regard 60
the responsibility so clearly imposed
upon mo boy the constitution IN mat
tcrs of legislation leave mo no choice
but Co dissent
I'm two particulars of vital con-
sequence this bin cmbodies "a radical
departure from the traditional and
long established policy of this coun-
Try. policy 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 &C. lts relations To- the peo-
pies af the world outside their bor-
ders. u seeks To all but close en-
tirey the gates OF asylum which hnVe
alWnys been open 90 those who could
find nowhere else the riEht aud op-
portunity of constitutional agitation
for what they conceived TO be the
natural and inaliennble rights OF
men: aud it excludes those To whom
the opportunities OF elementary edu-
cation have been denied, without re-
gard to their character. their pur-
poses. or their natural capacity
"Restrictons like these adopted
earlier In our history as nation
would very materially have altered
the course and cooled the humane
iardor Of our politics The right OF
political asylum has brought to tins
country many q man of noble char-
acter and elevated purpose. who was
masked az an outlaw In his own less
fortunate land and who has become
Ian ornament To our citizenship ana
to our public councils.
THE children and the compatriots
of these nustrious Americans mus'
stand amazed TO see the representa-
lives ot their nation now resolved, VI
Ithp mIluess OF our national strength
and at the maturity OF our great In
| Istitutions. to risk turning such mer
Ibpck from our shores without test "l
Iuuniitl 81 purpose. II is difficult tnl
Imc to believe that the lull effect ol
Ithis tcatur, at the bill wus realized
when it was framed and adopted an'
|it is impossible Tor me To assent q" y
. lU the form M MNNU Ut lN N''' 49,
The utcruoy test and the tests ans
restrictions which accompany a. con
/ stitutc AN even more radical change if
| the policy of the nation Hithert" We
have generously kept our doors opoi
/ To An who were not united by ten
son of disease or inCapdc!ty for sell
suppnrt or such personal r'eords ans
/ aptc,cdeuts aa were hkely 10 maxi
them "a menace Co our peace aud "l
dor or To- Wholesome and essential r'
intlousntps uf ufe In tEis hill IL
proposed 60 turn away from tests +"
character ana of quality and to I'M
pnsc tests which exclude and restrict
for the new trsts here embodied ar
NOT tests of quality or of character q
pcrsonal fitness. but tests ot opp"rtun
u, Those who come seeking upp"r
unit, are not 10 be admitted unies
they have already had one of th
chief of the opportunities they seeN
the ouportunIy uf education. The 90
iect of such provisions Is restriction
not selection.
"If ,hc people % this country nav
madc up their minds To- limit the mum
ber of immigrants hy arbitrary test
and so reverse the policy of ah lh
generations of Americans that nav
gone before hem. it Is their right q