The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-09

LITERACY TEST STANDS AND
MEASURE IS FAVORED BY
VOTE OF so TO-
Vote Indicates Measure Can be Pass
cd by More Than TwO.thirds If
WILSON Rejects it-IIOuse Leaders
Will Probably Ask for Conference
OH Amendments.

ton bill, containing the restrictive
literacy test for admission Of aliens.
passed the senate late today, SO to Z.
The overwhelming majority was re-
corded despite indications that Presi-
dent Wilson would veto the measure,
as did former President Taft, If it
should come to him with the educa-
tional test included.
The vote indicated that the bill
could be repassed by more than the
required two-thirds majority should
the president reject the measure.
Senators who voted against the bill
were Brandegee. McCumber, MARITIME.
O'Gorman, Ransdell, Reed and Walsh
The bill passed the house last Feb
ruary 241 to 126. Although the SEN
ate amended the house bill in several
particulars. the literacy test was un-
altered save for an additional exemp-
ton to Belgian subjects. adopted to-
day after prolonged debate. House
leaders probably will ask for q con-
ference on senate amendments Mon
day, but administration leaders were
confident the amendments would be
accepted and the bill sent to the
president by the middle Of next week.
Among senate amendments which
house leaders have said probably
would be accepted is one to exclude
from the United States all persons Of
the African race or Of negro blood.
Another strengthens the phraseology
Of the prohibition Of polygamists.
Closing hours Of the debate were
devoted to an amendment by sena-
tor Lodge to exempt Belgian farm
ers from the literacy test and from
provisions which prohibit Americans
from soliciting or inducing immigra-
t!on. Already American organizations
|are endeavoring to induce Belgians to
settle in this country.
The amendment as finally adopted,
OF 10 90, CcaQS.
THAT the provisions Of this act re-
lating to the illiteracy test. or induced.
or assisted immigration, shall not ap-
ply to agricultural immigrants from
Belgium who come to the United
States during the course of the pres
ent European war; or within one year
after it's termination, owing to cir
through the war, If it is shown to the
satisfaction Of the commissioner gen.
eral Of immigration that the said Bel
gian immigrants come with the inten-
ton Of engaging in agriculture in the
United States and to become Ameri-
can citizens"
The amendment precipitated long
discussion. Many amendments were
offered to include all subjects of bel
ligerents whose homes had been in
vaded. Senator Poindexter declared
other nations would protest under the
favored nations clause of their treat
les.
Senator Root. who supported the
Lodge amendment, declared it would
not violate any treaty obligations. He
pictured the Belgians as a people
without a country and without a pro-
tecting government. Many senators
from agricultural States protested
against the Limitation Of the exemp.
tiop to farmers.
The literacy test as finally approved
is Virtually as it passed the house. All
amendments to enlarge the exemp-
lions to admit persons fleeing from
political or racial as we'll as religious
persecution were rejected. The Sec
|tion reads:
THAT after four months from the
approval Of this act, in addition to the
aliens who are by law now excluded
from admission into the United States,
the following persons shall also be ex-
cluded from admission thereto, to wit:
"All aliens over 16 years Of age,
physically capable Of reading, who
cannot read the English language or
some other language or dialect. in
cluding Hebrew or Yiddish:
provided that any admissible alien
may bring in or send fer his father Or
grandfather over SO years of age his
wife. his mother, his grandmother, or
his unmarried or widowed daughter, if
otherwise admissible, whether such
relative can read or not; and such
relative shall be permitted to enter.
That for the purpose Of ascertaining
whether aliens can read the immi-
grant inspectors shall be furnished
with slips Of uniform size prepared
under the direction Of tho Socrotor,,