New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-29
Calls Literacy Test Blow
at Cornerstone of Amer
iCa'S Greatness.
QUESTION ONE FOR
PEOPLE TO PASS ON
Measure To BE Returned TO
House on February 5 in Effort
to Override Disapproval.
IFrsm Tha TrIbun. Bure,n

Washington, Jan. Is Singing out
the literacy test provision OF the i'm
migration bill "a sufficient objection
TO that measure 20 justify Withholding
his approval. the President to-day We
toed it, In a message to the House the
President took the ground that the
right OF asylum to the politically OPP
pressed Of all nations had been one OF
the cornerstones Of Americas great
ness. He also expressed doubt that the
literacy provision rested upon the con-
sciCntious desire Of the American peo-
pie He suggested that the people
should have an opportunity TO express
at the polls. In voting for party'S
platform. their matured judgment on
the subject.
Chairman Burnett Of the House
Committee on immigration and Natu
ralization announced that his commit
tee would bring the bill back to the
House on February 3, with the neces-
sary resolution 10 pass II over the
veto. There is a prevalent belief that
the effort 70 override the President
will be unsuccessful, despite the fact
that the measure passed by a majority
considerably in excess of the necessary
two-thirds.
Party loyalty and the conviction that
perhaps the Presidents expressed view
that the question should be subjected
more directly to the people and that q
campaign should be fought on it will
furnish the excuse for recession from
their original position on the part Of
many members OF the House. The
large majority for the measure orig-
nally came from Democrats. The Re
publicans are more nearly evenly di-
vided than are their opponents.
Changes among the Republicans and
Progressives from their original stand
are not expected. The President will
probably draw supporters altogether
from among members Of his own party.
Senate leaders insist that there Will
be no trouble repassing the bill IN the
upper house. This was done IN the
Taft administration, but the House
failed to muster twothirds majority
by narrow margin.
The Presidents Message.
at is with unaffected regret that |
find myself constrained by clear con-
viction TO return this bill without my
signature" said the President in his
message.
Not only do ] feel it to be a serious
matter to exercise the power Of veto
in any case, because il involves APP
posing the single judgment of the
President 20 the judgment Of a ma
jority Of both houses of the Congress,
a step which no man who realizes his
own liability 10 error can take without
great hesitation. but also because this
particular bill is in so many impor-
tant respects admirable, well conceived
and desirable Its enactment into law
would undoubtedly enhance the eff
ficiency and improve the methods Of
handling the important branch of the
public service 20 which it relates, but
candor and sense of duty with regard
20 the responsibility so clearly imposed
upon me by the Constitution in matters
of legislation leave me no choice but TO
dissent.
an two particulars of vital conse-
0uence 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
ceiyed the very character OF their gov
eminent 20 be expressed the very mis-
sion and spirit Of the nation in re-
spect of its relations to the peoples Of
the world outside their borders. 1t
seeks TO all but close entirely the gates
of asylum which have always been open
20 those who could find nowhere else
the right and opportunity Of constitu-
tional agitation for what they con-
ceived TO be the natural and inalienable
rights of men, and it excludes those to
whom the opportunities Of elementary
education have been denied without re-
gard to their character, their purposes
or their natural capacity.
Drifting from Early Ideals.
Restrictions like these adopted earlier
I in our history as a nation would very
materially have altered the course and
cooled the humane ardors OF our poll
/ tics. The right of political asylum has
/ brought TO this country many man
of noble character and elevated pur-
pose who was marked as an outlaw in
his own less fortunate land and who
has yet become an ornament TO our
citizenship and to our public councils.
"The children and the cOmpatriots OF
these illustrious Americans must stand
amazed 20 see the representatives OF
/ their nation now resolved, in the ful-
ness OF our national strength and at
the maturity Of our great institutions,
/ 20 risk turning such men back from our
shores without test Of quality or OF
purpose. II is difficult for me to be
lieye that the full effect Of this feat
ure OF the bill was realized when II
was framed and adopted, and 1t is i'm
possible for me to assent 10 II IN the
form in which il is here east.
"The literacy test and the tests and
restrictions which accompany 1t constl-
! tute an even more radical change in
the policy OF the nation. Hitherto we
have generously kept our doors open
10 all who were not untitled by reason
Of disease or incapacity for self-sup-
port or such personal records and
antecedents as were likely 10 make
them menace 20 our peace and order
or 10 the wholesome and essential re-
lationships Of life. In this bill ii 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 fitness, but tests Of oppor-
/ tunity.
Verdict of People Wanted.
"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 OPP
portunity of education. The object Of
such provisions is restriction, not Sc
lection.
IF the people of this country have
made up their minds to limit the mum
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