The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-04
L|TERACY BILL FAILS TO PASS
 ON FINAL VOTE
Measure Lost by lie Vote Opponents Assail 1t as
 Class Legislation.

The Foster Literacy Bill. requiring electors to be able to read the Con- stitution of the United States and write the English language, failed Of passaige in the Senate this morning, the vote standing four to four. Sen ators Aver, Chamberlin. Dimond and Hunt voted for tho bill, Aldrich, Brown. Dunn and Snodgrass against 1t.
 When 1t was seen that the opposi- y.on to tho bill was unbroken and 1t would fail on the final vote, in an effort to stay such defcat and in the hope of arriving at some compro- mise. Senator Aver moved that 1t be rccammitted to the Committee on Education for the purpose of revising the measure so that it would at least operate to prevent future mass vot- ing by illiterate Indians. The mo- ton wls lost. the four members sup porting the bill voting for it and the opposition voting against it solidly.
 Dunn Makes Main Speech
 The principal speech of the opposi- tion was made by Senator Dunn, oth- CTS speaking against IL being Brown and Snodgrass Senator Aldrich did nct speak At the conclusion of Dunn's addneSs at noon, Senator Chamberlin moved to recess. The motion was opposed by Dunn and. on a division the motion was lost by a rising vote. four to four with the lineup unchanged.
 Senator Dunn argued against pass age on the ground that the bill was contrary to Jaw, morality and prin- ciple. lit violated the Organic Act. prior Federal statutes, tho Treaty of Cesa.on. and tine Act of the Legisla- ture of 1915 creating means for In- dians attaining citizenship.
 Glasses Va. Maases
 He characterized the bill as class Legislation of the most vicious kind which sought to deprive citizens of their most precious right. the right of franchise He said 1t involved a question which had been at issue since time immemorial, that of the classes against tho masses, the uppers against tho lowers He referred to the proud white race crowding back the abor1gincs in Alaska. He de- clared when the United States ac- auircd .Alaska in 1867. 1t promised the Indians to place thom on a loot ing of equality with the white race. The latter, instead of keeping that promise, he charged. has taken away from him his hunting, fishing and f,H
 ;ake away from him the right of be- ing d full citizen" The bill. he charged. Is an attempt to take away | from certain citizens certain privfl- eges If tho Indian is ignorant, he declared. 1t is tho fault of the white man and not the Indian and the latter is mot to blanc.
 Needs Ignorant Workers He argued that the bill would be ! handicap to Alaska in It's effort to attract workers, laborers. etc. Al aska needs miners. prospectors, home- steaders. reindeer herders and others who can do real manual labor, he argued, whose ability to. do 1t IS not lessened if they cannot read and write English ''In my own part Of the country we want 1000 men, rough
 necks. and the rougher their necks the better it will be-" he asserted.
 Quotes Court Decisions Mr Dunn quoted a number of court decisions in an effort to establish the rights of Indians to citizenship. He declared it is not only impossible i -------------s