The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-10-15

| introduced in the Assembly Of this State in
January, 1869, by J. NJ. Woodwork. then a
member of that body from Humboldt county.
and now candidate for the Office of Sheriff
Of this county.
If this bill does not entitle Mr.. Woodwork
pre-eminently to the position of n Chinese
leader and a Chinese candidate, it would be
difficult to prove any ones claims to that po-
sition. When two-thirds of his own constitu-
ents, deprived of even the means of obtain
ing their daily bread by the overwhelming in
pouring Of Monaghan subjects into Humboldt
county, driven to desperation, had fallen back
upon the natural rights of men, and ordered
the Chinapen out of the county, Mr.. Wood
worth arose-their chosen, special champion
and with this bill attempted to make the act
n felony, punishable by imprisonment in the
State Prison for the term of five years.
This bill is a sample of what Radical oppo-
sition to the Chinese really means. The
miners of Humboldt county were in earnest
they meant opposition as well as talked it.
They carried their sentiments into execution
They proved their faith by their works, and
ordered the Chinese to leave, rs the miners of
many of the districts of California had done
! years before. The Chinese found their friends
and champions at once among the Radical
politicians, who came to the rescue with this
Woodwork IS bill. So great, however, was the
Indignation aroused among the miners of this
State at this cruel, arbitrary BILL that it failed
to pass. Immediately after this defeat. Mr..
Haines, then II member Of the Senate, and
La, Ia.
| ton for Governor, introduced n bill in that
body containing the same provisions, and that
infamous measure found n friend and sup
porter in Mr.. Tritle the present Radical nom.
| inee for Governor.
The Woodwork bill was warmly advocated
by the Radical papers, including the Sacn-
mento Union, the Carson Appeal, and the
Territorial Enterprise. The Sacramento
Union said of the proposed law and its au-
| thor:
Doubtless his honorable and manly &C nduct
| will excite the wrath of a good many of his
! voting constituents and make against his
| chances for reelection for year or two to
| come. But neither the men, nor the blind
and stupid prcjudiceS now possibly ruling the
| politics OF that or any other county in Neva-
| da, can count upon lengthy term of power
They must give way to the lights of reason
and the demands of business; and the day is
not far distant when these and kindred crimes
against natural law will be held in rs much
| adherence AS other crimes which the common
law has always held US infamous. In that
| day, Woodwork, of Humboldt, will reap the
| just reward of his manliness and moral cour-
| age"
In other words, the Union proposed to re-
ward lr. UoodIeorh for his Services 10 he CHI
ne8e cause as quickly "as the blind and stupid
| prejudices" of the miners could be overcome
by the pressure of despotic law-when oppo-
sition TO the Chinese importation should be
made State Prison oiiense. In that dav
when miners and miners rights are To be
crushed in the earth, then Mr.. Woodwork is
to reap his Just reward" Has that dav
| come? Is lEr. WoOd,rorM to be ,,otc reiruytied
for his dsr"tioR 10 the Chinese by the gtice Of
Sheriff Of Exc county, Let ever sincere OPP
| ponent to the presence Of these Asiatic hortles
| read the bill, and then answer whether he can
! conscentiously give his vote for the author
| OF such an Infamous attack upon the rights of
| free, white American miners We know not
what emergencies may yet arise in Elko coun-
| ty. The time may come when the miners of
| Elko may be driven to the wall as the people
of Humboldt were, and they may be com
! PEELED to resort to that primal lav" Of nature
which makes resistance to intolerable burdens
more than justiiable. No man sincerely op-
| posed to this Chinese immigration can desire
to see person holding such opinions in the
| Office of Sheriff
| When it became known that Woodworth's
| bill was before the Legislature, the Miners
| Unions of Virginia and Gold Hill drew up an
earnest protest against the passage of such on
act. denouncing it rs an attempt to degradc
tohite tabor TO The ierei Of coole Stare tutor. The
Enterprise, and the Carson Appeal, edited by
the present Radical nominee for State Printer,
ridiculed and denounced that protest. The
| Appeal said of it.:
"The Miners Unions of Virginia CITY and
Gold Hill are out in hifnlutin card against
| WOOdwOrth's Bill for the Protection of La
| Dor. We feel Just ~ certain that sensible men
will disregard the iiatulent sentences of that
prOnuciamento rs we are that il was written
| by some cheap rhetorician who is better fitted
| TO spout bombastic platitudcs in bnr-rOom
| than he is to preach public ethics or enuncinto
the doctrine Of the Dignity of Labor. II the
Miners Unions of Storey county are to set
| themselves up rs the rightful mOnopulists of
| laborers' rights and to declare war against
any of the legitimate practices and interests
of society, it is high time that the Legislature
| and courts be dissolved and the supreme die