The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-11
NEW IMMIGRATION LAW IS DOUBTFUL
 ASSET TO ALABAMA
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Hon. J. l.. Burnett our distinguished | congressman from the Seventh district, l seems to be greatly elated over his liter acy bill, which in spite of the President s veto has been finally passed by both houses and has in due course become a law. As this measure has many times been before the lawmakers in various forms and has four times been rejected by three inteHgent. patriotic Presidents, it is rather interesting to note the prac- tical value of the law to the home state of it's author.
 It is well that the subject of illiteracy should be kept in mind by any and all citizens of Alabama, for it is the one chief impediment to progress, and is today holding back the citizenship of the state from greater achievement. More lSnowl- edge of things essential to growth in in- dustrial and agricultural effort can only come through education. This, however, must not be limited to literary accom- plishment. Better directed manual labor through forceful training in efficiency and the elimination Of waste In time and substance is just as important as it is to know how to read, write and speak a language correctly. The greatest educa- tional force today in Alabama is the one for which Mrs. Mathis of Gadsden is re- sponsble, and which is teaching the art of doing things that are worth doing at the right time and in the right way.
 In an article from well known writer appearing in the current issue of the American Magazine, we read that Mrs. Mathis added $2OO00,OO0 to Alabama s wealth during the year 1915, through in- creased production by farmers who have profited by the practical advice and in- struction this wonderful woman has been able to give
 The curse of the south today is it's inef- ficient method of agriculture, and waste of time in all manner of performance. Alabama is in great need of the efficient labor which comes to America from the struggling scenes of turbulent unrest and economic despair beyond the ocean. Those who arrive with educational equipment to meet the requirements of our new statutes, are not the one we need. Our need is for those who come bubbling over with health and animal energy, yet limited in book knowledge and literary endowment. The stury yeomanry from the Grampian hills and the plains of Odessa who have seen in the heavens the star of hope and the lighted torch of liberty.
 These are the men who will thank God for the open door of opportunity through
 
 not enter now, but having reached the door in time, have since entering, found and climbed the ladder of success and are among the nations greatest assets. The native born poor whites of the south vie with their African neighbors in shift lessness and many times surpass them in lack of interest in education. To cut off from entry to Alabama the prospec- tive hardy, energetic, ambitious young foreigner, who is not fitted by education to become a labor agitator, and accept in his place the uncertain immigrant who lands on our soil with the seeds of an- archy in his heart, concealed beneath a show of education, is to confer upon the state a doubtful benefit. It is, therefore, passing strange that more practical and effective intelligence is not brought to bear upon these vital questions that so deeply concern the national welfare That the unwise literacy clause was en- forced upon the nation by our lawmakers