Show I PRESIDENT VETOES Bill BELL Immigration Measure Fails Because of Literacy T Test es t. t WASHINGTON Jan 28 President President Wilson vetoed the immigration hill bill today today today to to- day and sent a special message to congress con con- gress greas saying he disapproved the thc measure mCl because of the tho literacy test and other restrictive i e tests which it proposes as a al condition l di tiou admi fa i ion of lIl the States Pres President Wilsons Wilson's delivered to the tho cas as follows folloW's It is with unaffected rc regret ct that I find myself constrained by clear conviction conviction con ic tion to return this bill bilI 11 II H. R R. R an ana a act t to regulate the tho immigration of aliens to and the resi residence ence of aliens inthe in inthe the United Unite States without m my signa signature signa turc ture i No Choice but Dissent Not Not only do I feel it to bo ho a serious matter to exorcise the power po of veto in any case because it involves op opposing osing the tho single judgment of the president to the ju judgment of a majority of both houses of the congress a a. step which no noman noman noman man who realizes his Ms own liability to error ca can take without great eat hesitation but also because this particular bill biU is in inso inso so 50 many important respects admirable well conceived ed and desirable Ie Its Its enactment into law would undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- enhance tho the efficiency and improve the methods of handling tho the important branch of the tho public c service e eto to which it relates CANDOR AND A SENSE OF Or DUTY WITH REGARD TO THE RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY SO CLEARLY Y IMPOSED UPON ME BY THE CONSTITUTION IN MATTERS rATTERS OF Or LEGISLA LEGISLATION TION LEA LEAVE VB ME NO CHOICE BUT TO DISSENT Closes Gates of 01 Asylum In two particulars particular of ot vital consequence this this' bill embodies a rd radical departure from the tra traditional an and long Ions established policy polley of ot this country a policy polley In which our people have havo conceived toe the very character character char char- acter of ot their government to be 00 expressed expressed ex ex- ex- ex pr pressed cd the tho very mission and spirit of or orthe the nation ration In respect of Its relations to the peoples of ot the world outside their borders It seeks to all but close entirely the gates of ot asylum which have always been II open to those who could find nowhere nowhere nowhere no no- where else elEe the tight and opportunity of ot constitutional agitation for tor what the they conceived to be the natural and anti Inalienable Inalienable Inalien Inalien- able rights of or men and It excludes those to whom the opportunities of ot elementary education have been denied without ro- ro Bard gard to their character their purposes or their natural capacity Good Citi Citizens ns Wanted Restrictions like the these e 8 ado adopted ted earlier In our history u as a nation would very cry materially have ha altered tho the course and cooled the humane ardors of or our politics The Tho right of political asylum has haa brought to this country many a man o of ot noble character and elevated purpose who was wa masked aa u an outlaw In his own less fortunate fortunato for for- land and who has haa yet become an ornament to our citizenship and to our public councils The children and the compatriots of or these there Illustrious Americans must stand amazed to B see Beo O the representatives of ot their nation now resolved rf In the of our national strength and at the maturity of our great Institutions Institutions to risk such men back from cm our shores without test of ot or purpose It Is la difficult for tor me to t bellevo that the tho full effect of or orthis this feature of the bill was realized when It was waa framed and adopted and It Is Impossible Impossible Im Im- Im possible for me to assent to It fn in tho the form formIn In which It Is here cut cast Keep Our Doors Open Tho The literacy test teat and the te testa and restrictions which accompany It Il constitute con- con more mora radical change In Inthe an even tho the policy polley of the nation Hitherto we have generously kept our nur doors open pe to nil all tl who were not unfitted b liv reat reason reanon n of or or Incapacity t tor for self support or Continued on pa page o 1 12 PRESIDENT VETOES Continued from page e 1 such uch personal records record and antecedents as were Ikel likely to make mako them a menace to our peace and order or to the tho wholesome and essential relationships of 0 life lo Inthis Inthis In 11 this bill bl it Is I proposed to urn ur n a away from rein I tests of or this character and of or quality and to Impose tests which exclude and re restrIct restrict ro- ro strict for or the new tests hero here embodied are aro not tests of or quality or of or character or of 0 personal fitness but tests O of I Those who conic come com seeking opportunity are not to be admitted unless tho thaI thoy have 1 0 already alread had one of at the chief of tho the opportunities the they seek the seek tho opportunity o of education lon Tho Tim object t of ot such provIsIons provisions provisions pro pro- I visions Is restriction not selection I I |