The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-15
WOULD VETO
LITERACY TEST
Wilson Causes Determination
to Be Known
WOULD ADMIT ONLY WHITES
Reed Would Keep Out All Races Es-
cept Purely Caucasian-immigra-
ton Bill Encounters Opposi.
ton in Senate.

Washington.-Wh the immigra-
tion bill passed by the House at the
| last session was meeting unexpected
opposition In the Senate, il became
known definitely that President Will
son will veto the measure ii it goes
20 the White House with the literacy
test provision one OF its chief feat
lres.
The President, early in his admin
lstration vetoed a similar bill for
the same reason-as Presidents
Cleveland and Taft had done before
him-but advocates OF the legisla-
ton had hoped that he would not
withhold his signature this time. il
substantial majorities were given in
both houses OF Congress.
Argue Race Issue.
Debate on the bill in the Senate
developed into general argument
over the question OF exclusion OF
aliens on account OF race.
Senator Works OF California
started the discussion by giving no
tice that he reserved the right to
demand separate vote on Sen
ate committee amendment providing
'or the exclusion of Hindus and other
Asiatics, by prescribing geographical
areas from which Immigrants shall
lot be admitted. without enumer-
ating races. The amendment recon-
mended by the State department
after inquiries had been made by
the Japanese government respecting
provisions of the bill as it passed
he House, eliminates all reference
10 the Root-Takahira passport agree
ton.
Senator Works, insisted that this
would leave the United States at the
mercy of Japanese dictation as 10
immigration from that country. As
treaty rights are involved, the Sen
ate went into executive session for
the debate which lasted more than
an hour without a vote.
In open session. Senator Reed OF
iered an amendment to include tn,
continent of Africa within the limits
set by the committee. He said he
would favor any legislation which
would keep out OF the United States
any persons not OF pure white blood,
but he did not think il proper tor
Congress, Ito exclude by law and
admit by diplomacy"
II believe" said Senator Reed,
the time has come when we ought
20 keep our country from being filled
up with people not capable OF be-
coming first class citizens of the
United States, people who, by birth,
environment and disposition or by
their great ignorance. are not quail
flied to perform the duties OF citi-
sens."
Answering a question OF Senator
Gallinger as TO whether Jews might
not be as well excluded as Negroes,
Senator Reed said:
The Jews, by race and by blood,
nave been civilized for thousands of
years. They spring from the race
that gave us our religion and the fun
damentals of our laws am not
seeking TO open the old black and
white issues in this country. 1t is
plain that we should make an effort
to protect our citizens from an influx
Of undesirables and keep out all not
capable of thorough amalgamation."
Few Come from Africa.
Senator Smith OF South Carolina. in
charge OF the bill. produced statistics
to show that in the last 90 years there
have been only about $4,000 immi
grants from Africa TO this country.
What you are really proposing in
this amendment" suggested Senator
Vardaman, rs to exclude people on
account of race"
II suspect you are right said
Senator Smith. adding, "All we have
tried To do is To avoid racial compli-
cation without running into national
complications"