New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-29
A Courageous and Proper Veto

President Wilson showed q fine quality Of IN
dependence in vetoirg the immigration bill mat
measure was passed by Democratic Congress
bv a Congress, moreover, which has steadily sup
ported the President and often sacrificed its own
opinion and initiative in doing so. A more COM
plaisant President would have signed the bill and
excused himself on the plea that he owed Ton
gress at least that much reciprocity. As MI
Wilson frankly confessed yesterday it cost HIM
considerable effort to bring himself to the point
Of opposing his individual judgment TO that oil
very large majority Of his party in both houses
II is all the more TO the Presidents credit that
he held fast to his convictions and suppressed all
desire TO avoid clash with party friends who had
often yielded to him in the interest Of harmony
The country sets a higher standard Of hrmness
and consistency for the President than 1t does Tor
leaders in Congress The latter must often COM
promise in order TO get law passed. They are
frequently obliged 10 modify pledges and to sacri-
fee a major principle for the sake Of minor one.
But the President is expected to stand fast for the
right exactly as he sees It. law is the result Of
the friction Of many minds. But his veto is the
product Of one mind, and should represent IN
fexibly that minds best and clearest judgment.
The President did a fine service when he in
sisted on the repeal of the provision of the Pan
anna Canal law exempting vessels in the coastwlse
trade from the payment of canal tolls. He stood
for the remuneration Of an advantage inconsistent
with the Interpretation undoubtedly put upon the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty by the men who framed 1t.
lie had to fight down serious opposition in his own
party 10 set our record of honor straight. Now
ne runs counter to a very much larger party SEN
timent by vetoing bill which sets up an immi-
grafton test out Of harmony with true American
notions as to what immigrants are desirable and
what are undesirable.
The President is right in holding that the lit
eracy test is arbitrary and unjust. 1t is test not
Of character, not Of capacity to DO the work which
an immigrant ordinarily comes here TO do, nor
even Of ability TO avoid becoming public charge
in some prison. hospital insane asylum. 1t Is
a mere test of opportunty--the accidental oppor-
tunity of mastering the rudiments Of some written
dialect or language. What the country needs is
non-academc immigration test, which will help to
decrease the army Of the insane and the criminal
the ranks Of immigrants. A practical test which
would reach the physically undesirable is much
more important than one which would simply
weed out the terate no matter what their quail
ihcatons to dig our tunnels and construct road
beds for our railways Literacy illiteracy is of
small account in estimating the value Of the labor
supply which Europe furnishes us. 1t is time to
IL.
who remains (and many do not remain) makes
up his mind to try to qualify for citizenship.
Mr. Wilson is justified in asking that a more
genuine popular demand for such an innovation
as the teracy test be shown before it is set up at
our immigration stations. The country has never
shown much interest in this unreasonable ex-
clusion device, and we feel that Congress would
make serious mistake if it should enact the
present law over Mr.. Wilson's Veto