Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-21
BEFRIENDING WORKINGMEN.
rHE ixposrAroSor LABOR.
srr..h or Hen. John J.o'seli. OF Missouri,
in che House Of Representatives, Jsae 49,

in The nsuse Of Representatives, Sune W.
1sea.
The House having under consideration
the bill III. X. $500 TO prohibit the impor.
atiop and immigration OF foreigners ana
sliens under contract 10 perform labor IN
the United States. its Territories. and the
District Of Columbia. Mr. VNeiIi, OF MIS-
souri,, said;
MIR. Speaker: There are often c'rcun'-
stances arising In connection Win ueoa.e
which cause US to pause 10 unuer.tsnu III
tives. ] listened with great ueal o. io-
terest 10 the gentleman from PcnnsyNan,a
(Mr. Kelley, who found under the genera,'
welfare cianse of the Constitution iustiti-
cation for this legislation. and j am sorry
he II not now present. listened to him
with the more interest because the party 10
which he belongs and OF which he Il re.
cogpized as O distinguished leader has, rs
understand, applied for copyright on the
words .. proteciion Of American labor"
Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylvania: We HAYES
copyright: VIII .a v,.
Ike A GOOD many other things that your
uyrty has got without honestly earning
them. (Lsugbter.I II is but copy.
MIR. Cox. Of New York: But no right.
Mr. O'Neill, OF Missouri: A copy OF
good principle. but not right as they inter
prct It llaughterl; and vet their distin-
euished leader, while he appreciates the
principles OF this bill. cannot support II.
How consistent with the practices OF bis
party, 10 ever make the promise to the ear
only 10 break 1t to the hope. wish now
10 refer TO one Of the curiosities OF Amerl-
can legislation which has attracted my al
taH 1 Z N Gpf N NJ
courage INN igrsiion," approved July 4.
1894. find the following provisions:
BE IL enacted, de-, That the President oil
the United States Is hereby authorized, 6y
snd with the advice and consent OF the
Senate, to appoint commissioner OF imml-
grstion, who shall be subject to the direc-
ton OF the Department Of State" DC.
The remainder Of that section relates
only to clerks, salaries, and tenure OF Office,
but the second section is very interesting.
Section 2. And be it further enacted. That
all contracts that shall be made by emf
grants to the United States Ia foreign cOun-
tries, In conformity to regulations that may
be established by said commissioner. where.
by emigrants shall pledge the wages OF
their labor for q term not exceeding twelve
months to repay the expenses OF their
emigration, shall be held to be valid In law.
and may be enforced IN tho courts OF the
United States or Of the several States and
Territories; and such advances. II so stipu-
Isted In the contract, and the contract be
recorded in the recorders Office In the
county where. the emigrant shall settle,
shall operate az q lien upon any land there
after acquired BY the emigrant, whether
under the homestead law when the title Is
coBsummated, or on property otherwise
acquired, until liquidted by the emIgrant;
but nothing herein contained shall be
deemed TO authorize any contract contra,
vening the Constitution OF the United
states. or creating in any way the relation
Of slavery or servitude.
WIN insert the words cor creating In
any way the relation Of slavery or seryi-
tudev hut for the reason that they well
knew that il was death-bl0w aimed at
American workmep at the instance OF
wealthy capitalists whose only excuse was
their greed9
AT a time when the Republican party was
in full control of all branches OF the Gov
eminent 1t bccsme law, and Is the pioneer
work in encouraging the introduction OF
alien imported labor TO destroy American
labor. And vet, at the National Conven-
ton recently held at Chicago. they incor-
porated in their platform provision con-
demning the importation OF aliens under
contract to perform labor in the United
States. How consistent.
A member What is the dsfc OF that act?
MIR. UNcill, OF Missouri: July 4, 1864;
and believe it remained law for many
years, though an appropriation couldneyer
he obtained to carry IL into effect.
Now, the 4th Of July was patriotic day
to plant in the statute-boOxs OF this coun-
try the most infamous law that could be
framed, and which meant no more than
servitude; which meant to create lien on
everything that an unfortunate immigrant
could acquire after he came here in response
to their desire for cheap labor. think II
proper to refer to that when ! see this
cauting. hypocritlcal party now masquera-
ding before the country AZ having been al
WAYS the friend OF labor. Friends OF labor!
Heaven save workmen from such friends.
which, even at this session, in the branch
OF legislation that they control, have emas-
culated the labor-bureau bill demanded by
every labor organization Of the country.
Whist contrast Is presented in the pre-
sent Democratic House, creating for the first
time In Congress distinct Committee on
Labor, q majority OF which committee
am proud to say are men who worked al
the bench as mechanics, and who know
from experience exactly what the working
men OF this country desire, and who have
favorably reported bsck every measure de-
manded bv the labor interests. They are
not demagogues, as gentlemen on the other
side would seem to intimate, and they tell
YOU here to-day, sir. that while the constif
| tutlonal lawyers i'm this House may find
flaws in this bill. the principle is right, and
that il is exactly what the mechanics OF
this country ask for at your hands. They
| ask il, Mir. Speaker. for two reasons; the
| Grst is that YOU shall protect American Ia
| Dor from the pauper labor that IL imported
| from Europe by your wealthy capitalists.
| They ask that. Whyg They are entitled
TO il. II il your duty to protect your own.
and YOU must realize that this importation
only occurs at one time, and that when Ia.
Dor here Is struggling against capital for
its lust rights; when manhood says, 1--WE
have submittedall we cal 10 the exac.i0ns OF
unjust capitalists" II Is when labor justly
says that under the policy OF this country
for something like twenty years manufac-
turers have been peculiarly protected by q
| system Of revenue laws which have been
| enacted first as a war measure and aft r
ward maintained under the idea that it wa'
for the benefit Of American labor, not TO
benefit solely the manufacturers, but to
protect American labor against tie pauper
labor Of Europe. These laborers say. "We,
as the laDorers OF the country. ask you
TO give us a fair share OF that protection
which was enacted for our benefit" They
ask that II shall not be considered the only
principle involved IN business enterprises
employing labor to see how low they can
make their expenses. and how great they
can increase thef dividends.
| Whenever labor. driven to the last edge,
is compelled 10 stand up for its rights.
then your capitalists send abroad and
bring over this pauper labor TO work at the
rate Of 70 to so cents a day, not TO perma-
nently employ them; not to have them
merge In our grand army OF workmen, and
they and their families enjoy the benefits
and blessings OF our Government, but only
for temporary emergency, to be used In
crushing our workmen in any effort they
may make 10 improve their condition and
that Of their loved ones. And then, after
that Is accomplished, these poor, mis-
guided, wronged, deceived, and robbed
forced emigrants are turned out upon the
waysde 10 stsrve.
The testimony taken by our Committee
on Labor and submitted to this House shows
the necessity OF the passage OF radical
measure like the pending bill. and can but
awaken the deepest indignation against this
wrong, against those whose only crime IL
TO be POOR, by psmpered association OF