South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-28
President, Explaining Veto OF
immigration Bill, Declares it
Imposes Trial, Not of Quality
Or Character, But of Fortune
HOLDS IT WRONG TO
DENY POLITICAL ASYLUM
Asserts There is No Evidence of
Demand That Nation Make
Radical Departure From Pol
icy of Welcoming Oppressed.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-Fol-
lowing the reading the immigra-
tion veto message, the house re-
ferred it to the committee on i'm
migration and Chairman Burnett
notified the house that ne eN-
meets the committee TO report II
back one week from today
Thursday, with a motion 10 over
ride the presidents veto.
WASHINGTC> Jan. 2S.-Declar-
ing that ne vetoed the immigration
bill with the greatest regret. Pres
Wilson today returned the measure
To the house without his signature.
He sent to congress message out
lining his views on the bill and Civ
ing his specific reasons for opposins
his Judgment to that of majority OF
both the houses of congress, step
which he declares mo man who real
fzes his own liability TO error can take
without great hesitation"
The presidents message follows;
1T is with unaffected regret that 1
Gnd m yself constrained by clear con-
viction TO return this bill without my
signature. Not only do / feel 1t 10 DE
a. very serious matter TO exercise the
power of veto in any case. because lt
involves opposing the single Judg-
ment OF the president TO the judg-
ment of the majority of both the
houses of the congress, "a step which
no man who realizes his own liability
10 error can take without great hes
UatiOu. but also because this partic-
ular bill is in SO many respects ad-
mirable. well conceived and desira-
ble. It's enactment into law would
undoubtedly enhance the efficiency
and improve the methods of handling
the important branch of the public
service To which it relates. but can
dor and a sense Of duty with regard
to the responsibility SO clearly I'M
posed upon me 10y the constitution in
matters of legislation leaves me 10
choice but 90 dissent.
Involves Radical Change.
I'm two particulars of vital conse-
0uence this bill embOdies a radical
departure from the traditional and
long established policy of this COun-
try. "a policy in which our people have
conceived tho very character Of their
government TO he expressed, the very
mission and spirit of the nation i'm
respect of its relations to the peoples
OF the world outside their borders. 1t
seeks To all but close entirely the
gates of asylums. which always have
been open 10 those who could find no
where else the right and opportunity
OF constitutional agitation for what
they conceived TO be the natural and
inalienable rights of man: and il eT-
CludeS those 10 whom the opportunity
of elementary education has been de-
MED. without regard to their charac-
ter. their purposes or their natural
capacity.
Restrictions like these. adopted
early IN our history, as a nation,
would have very materially altered
the course and cooled the humane
ardors of our politics The right of
political asylum has been brought TO
this country many a man OF noble
character, who was marked as an
outlaw in his own less fortunate land.
and who has yet become an ornament
10 our citizenship and to our public
councils. The children and compa-
triots Of these illustrious Americans
stand amazed to see the representa-
tives OF their nation now resolved in
the fullneSS OF our national strength
and cur great institutions, 10 risk
turning such men back from our
shores, without test of quality or pur-
pose. tx is difficult for me TO believe
that the fun effect of this feature OF
the bin was realized when il was
framed and adopted. and il is impos-
sible for me 60 assent 20 it in the form
IA which II is here passed
No test Of Quality.
The literacy 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
open 80 all who are not untitled by
reason OF disease or incapaCitv OF self
support or such personal records and
antecedents as were likely TO make
them a menace 90 our peace and or
der or to the wholesome aud offensive
relationship or life. Ia this bill IL is
proposed 90 turn away from tests OF
character and OF quality and impose
tests which exclude and restrict. for
the new tests here embodied are not
tests of quality or OF character or OF
personal fitness. hut tests or op2ortu-
nifty. Those who come seeking on
portunity are not 10 be admitted un-
less they already have had one of the
chief OF the opportunities they seek.
the opportunity OF education. The
object Of such provisions is restriction
not selection. If the people OF this
country have made up their minds To
limit the number OF immigrants by
arbitrary tests and SO reverse the pol
ley of all the generations OF Ameri-
rans that have gone before them. il Is
their right 10 do so. I am their ser
Want and have no license 20 stand In
their way
No General Demand.
But ] DO not believe they have
. respectfully submit that no one can
quote their mandate To that effect
Has any political party ever avowed
a policy OF restriction in this funda-
mental matter, gone to the country on
and been commissioned to control