Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-01
PATRIOTIC ORDERS ON
IMMIGRATION BILL
The Attitude of Native Frater-
mites on Restrictive, Not Pro-
hibitive, Legislation

IN view OF the present NDUSlNtIhNlbU Oh
the immigration bill by both branches Of
Congress the following analysis Of the
main objections Of the leading patriotic
and native beneficial organizations is pre-
sented by an eminent and experienced oii-
Ter who was q leader OF the joint frateruul
delegations in conference with the Pres-
dent on the subject
"In discussing the question Of restrictive
immigration. ! shall only consider II IN so
far as the literaCy test Is concerned be-
cause the many other important phases
such as paupersm contract labor. lunacy
disease. sanitation, crime etc, are taken
care Of 10y those who are familiar with
the dpgeucratiug and dcbasuE Influences
which aow from them
THE Dillingham; hill. which President TAFT
vetoed provided for both reading and
writing test Tho Burnett bill. which will
very shortly come before President Wilson
for his signature or veto, provides for a
reading test only. aud for those fourteen
years Of age or over The intent uf these
managers is not prohibttiye, hut Of re-
strictive nature
The putriuuc fraternities are more cspe-
cially identified with the lteraCy test be-
cause they believe in the education OF our
boys and girls and all OF the people They
are defenders uf our public school system
Education makes reasoning and intelligent
minds and provides Il better citizenship. II
creates bo,trr vantage ground in the
battle for existence.
''Thn ropor of the Commissioner General "
Immigration Tor lpii shows that fur the fiscal
were admlt,SIm m in;" ;t0 the iuu,cd stHtes"t6sds
wSTs ] o Mnqey tggrteen [saGS Sr aSs ~ gbSs
over fg,ut".r ears ot gEe gould read, but could
F%eyays -' Tsr ~ cGa ISu% at to,a TAI ngmgr q
waro rad T" 'Gn @membsr no S this SGuI fact 'n'' yea"
1hr lmmsGat"n GomTLs'iGsn ,s after four
than Sl.ooO O0O. both at home aud abroad. in
~, report to t9nErossi einhodying forty.two
and writing test ia the most feasible single
This VAS ,onciTred in Ty eight out OF iha nine
members " the commlssion The Immigration
mmlgrants accounted for lHcrcased mine GiSplo.
Standards Of iving lower wnFSs longer hours
worse sanitation Increase In pauperism' lunacy
%Thors can be no question but ,h9, SnGh con-
to h% wrars t S?T'S ana T s pSops
| The ntcrate immigrant Is easily mnosed IMpon
kin and he b,c3m.s' tHe but and prey Of ali
! IN the mire OF dIsadyantoge. discomfort and
ment he Secomes cngeysd his ign9rgnee opsrei,,,.
SF"Rsl az i9' ona sf'f hs H
%!TGis, is mgEfssty, gxemnliheI IN the mines
| nbili,y to read notices, oracrs. rules etc. cu!,
TO nceiI,nt damage anh death ;rer So too, n, i,
he uncmpioycd which very naturally loads to IN,
i"wcTs the staRdSrd Of wages The iliitoratc
immlEr9nt T. not wro4gTG lio Pos poiss'ss%S nc no
r6agSG s Sy m Tfsas 10 Rrnn hin 2 " somSh S
that he has no right to except by permission.
that is is psrpetrated upon the American people
by permitting undesirable ullltrrgtel immiEranls
entitled TO some thouEhtful eonsidsrGtion Ill. in
Sary h1 6Sno fahens cS % h iSS country
escape reRious persecution and thG tyrarpnnS yrarpnnS
| were not itcrRtcs In recent years the great
mass VI immigrants. cHrecially the intrrntrs
| cIous motives aud selfish purposes Fraternitie'
nTrcd GTyE no HufFrT Is The WIN @ mEant Hi
that means nltcrateE that, should be excluded
o %"S so2mS R5'u P' a
The United states Goy,rnmTnt and thG Coy
public schools and many have provided for n n
The child is cSmpriici to attend school; Educa
| tiQn is the haslc principle upon which thr IN
| and upon which the improved condition and bet
tSrment o. It's pGopG IgeSTdf Mtho 6 Sp@rS
| nre bound to follow: Why should iRn2rant I'M IN
dstcridTatG " and I'd lover lover the aducatlonal sIandar,
Of our country? Why should We not eXaG ,,
Boys 10 san and i's girls? Don't you think that thes,
| illltcrate immigrants ought 10 know somethins
| rather than nothing?
According to the United states Rurcau, q
| Education there are nearly 1000, ,GOn adults tina
| are iliterutc that cannot he reached by the pun
IIteTa",yyo in the U'ntted states on Of two t6in@
must happen: Wait for the present generation o
| adults to die on or. II possible, by some meant
such as night schools reach these illiterate mil
| Hens commissioner tluNtOn mas said 'lht
| the public system Of schools or even nigh
schools will not reach this class OF adult illite
| Tntcs' The Industrial l.ergur Is endeavurin'
10 awaken Industrial managers. chambers o
orally 10 the Importance Of installing som
system OF elementary instruction in large in
| dustrial esta ablishments whereby foreigners VIII
speak practically no English may DO taught {,
| read aud write and speak the language OF th'
| country at least well enough to famlliarize them
selves with Its fundamental institutions.
Tine AbrTCTUmhlu llllttrurN blll before Con
| gTess a few sought TO require th
| Bureau Of Education to undertake. this work UI
| request OF the proper state authorities HuC
| ma med an appropriation OF $4,000 for the yeal
| 1918. Both Of these latter suggestions are onl'
| theoretical and Of psychologist inference as 4
| means. They are Impractical ana lmpossibl'
| OF accomplishment because you are dealing viii
! adults who out In the world earning a liv
| ing and have not the time and opportunity t'
attend any such means OF acquiring an educH
| tiOn.
education ot llliter4te adults are entirely differ
| ent from the same schools for the purpose o.
| advancing those who are already educated an'
are seeking to improve themselves in sOm
| particular line Of occupation or business.
We have about = 900 uUu adults VINO are illlt
crate and about $50 600 more coming to us eacl
year. II is stupandOus proposition TO solve
III we cannot educate those illiteTate adult
| that we already have with Us. what W
going TO do with the additional legiOns that ar
constantly coming TO us?