Evening journal., 1917-04-30
YES REPEAL IN.

II ERE is editorial from the New York sun with
II respect to the immigration literacy test which,
N its broad features comedies thoroughly with the
ews OF Col Henry A. DUPONT OF this State who twice
roted against the test when he in the United states
Senate that we deem It a public duty reproduce il:
Beginning on Tuesday Of next week, May /, the
United States Government will close the doors OF this
country TO all immigrants rs who cannot read,
except few applicants for admission who fail within
dearly defined and closely drawn categories
Congress more plant TO the demands OF selfish
agators than responsive TO the ideals and needs or
he nation passed the eracy test over the Presidents
veto in February against the protests Of every
ehened man i'm the country and with fun knowl-
adge OF alarming shortage then existing in the labor
market.
Today the United States at war and committed
10 the task OF supplying allies with food for their
mat IN Europe and Asia protect our homes IN America
lacks for It's farms, for it's industries, for its
mines. for its railroads. for its shipping Govern
ncnt agents and private emissafies are combng the
land for men able and willing 90 labor; and soon
Federal inspectors viii say 20 men willing and able
% work. "You cannot read. you shall not enter
Never before has the United States needed workers
IS % does ~ me spring OF 1871 Every trade and every
calling seeks thcm not merely for its own purpose.
rot for the sake of profits. not % accomplish selfish
mds but 10 save the United states from disaster. to
protect democracy n every corner % the globe from
destruction by Prussian absolutsm; and n the pres
tnce Of this supreme necessity the nation must ex-
lrt am OF resources OF ifs civil establishment 10
irve from its portals % good uii OF industrious
habits, OF strong arms OF unqucstioned courage be-
m paper?
They may be mon % the best character They max
iaNe struggled 10 reach the United States animated
by desire 10 repair the misf0rtuucs which kept them
from an education. They may have come h.ther thar
her children may enjoy the advantages % instruct
they themselves lacked. They may bring deep muHrlcd
chests skill at agriculture or trades. but 70 they
must confess that they cannot interpret few arti-
trary symbols printed sheet ~ paper they must
be excluded from the ranks ~ t0lers in a community
That cries out for workers,
This s the fruit % selfish means aud aetfv roffirs
rms s the result ~ needing The pleas % ern-1 irfo-
ess ana closing the ears 10 The opinions ~ sfaterer
and the eyes 20 the lesson % history country On.
gagged IN the most m0meufous struggle the world has
seen IS hamstrung by s legislator and ar Il, -ers 10,
10 hBht Tor ITS existence must eInend part ~ H..
energy in repellng from 10 the agents aud arsiefanfr
most sOrcly needs
Gould Congress do more useful a more Intelligent
or more necessary act than % repeal at once th,
vicious lteracy test which hy ifs folly and wrong
medicines now d.sgraces the statute booksg
That literacy test 20 be- applied to immigrants wal
adopted boy Congress 10 the face ~ opposition from
men like President Wilson and Colonel dupont an,
the evil results TO country which will rosut from
the operations OF the law already are So apparen
10 thinking men that Congress certainly should lose IA
lime in back-tracking on the question
There never has been a time when the United state
was in more imperative need OF strong healthy ant
wholesome immigrants than il is right now
The Widespread complaint heard nowadays i'm al
sections Of our country is not that there is a shortag
Of men and women who can read and write but tina
there is pronounced shortage of strong and able
bodied men and women who can do manual labor ii
the shops and on the farms.
The literacy test should be repealed as war nnea,
ure and after it has been repealed it should not
re-enacted