Charles Nagel

Charles Nagel was the U.S. secretary of commerce and labor from 1909 to 1913. The following viewpoint is an extract of a letter written by Nagel on February 12, 1913, to President William H. Taft concerning a bill passed by Congress to require a literacy test for new immigrants. The bill required that the male head of household be able to read in his native language, although his wife or minor children were not required to be literate. Nagel argues that these provisions are impractical and without merit. According to the new law, a family in which the children and mother could read would be turned away if the father could not read. Nagel concludes that requiring a literacy test does not ensure the quality of immigrants to the United States. Taft vetoed the bill requiring...