The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-28
HE WRITES HIS VETO.
Continued from Page one.)


improve the methods Of handling the
important branch of the public service
to which it relates. But candor and a
sense Of duty with regard to the re-
sponsibility SO clearly imposed on me
by the constitution in matters Of legis-
lation, leave me no choice but to dis
sent.
quence 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 the very character of their
government to be expressed, the very
mission and spirit Of the nation in re-
spect of it's relations to the peoples of
the world outside their borders.
1T seeks to all but close the gates of
the asylum which have always been
open to those who can find nowhere
else the right and opportunity of con-
stitutional 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.
OF their natural capacity.
f"RestrictiOnS like these adopted
earlier in our history as a nation would
very naturally have altered the course
and cooled the humane ardor Of our
politics. The right of political asylum
has brought to this country many
man of noble character and elevated
purpose, 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 coun-
ellis.
Reversing Ourselves.
1.-THE children and compatriots of
these illustrious Americans must stand
a m tn fhn x<.tr nsr>s -
their nation now resolved, in the full
ness Of our national strength and at
the maturity of our great institutions
to risk turning such men back from our
shores without test of. quality or pur-
pose. 80 4yssz&
1T is difficult for me to believe that
the full effect of this feature of the bill
was realized when it was framed .and
adopted and it is impossible For ME to
assent to it in the form in which it is
here cast. 1f ~s.l.., ,+s-s,
"The literacy test and the tests and
restrictions which accompany it con-
stitute an even more radical change in
the policy of the nation. Hitherto we
have generally kept our doors open to
all who were not untitled by reason OF
disease or incapacity for self support OF
such personal records and antecedents
as were likely to make TEN a menace
to our peace and order or to the whole
some and eSSent1al relationship of life
I'm this bill it is proposed to turn
away from tests of character and OF
quality and to impose tests which ex.
clude and restrict; for the new test.
here embodied are not tests Of qualit,
or Of character or OF personal fitness
but tests Of opportunity. Those whs
come seeking opportunity are not to b,
admitted unless they have already had
one Of the chief opportunities the.
aQQk-fha ny1n0Yfnnitv NJ o5lr
Restriction, Not Selection.
1.-THE object OF such provisions i
restriction, not selection.
IF the people Of this country hav,
made up their minds to limit tn
number Of immigrants by arbitrar.
tests and 50 reverse the policy Of al
the generations Of Americans tina
have gone before them. II II thef
: