Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-10
A CRY FOB HELP.
A Stirring Appeal From California
knights Of Labor The Evils ~ Chinese
Competition WILDLY Told.

A Stirring Appeal From California
knights Of Labor The Evils Il Chinese
Competition WILDLY Told.
Boa0a H-raii Of F,6 ..
The Knights OF labor in California, be-
side circulating petitions in that State
which have been signed by two ex.Govern'
ors, Judges, and ell the prominent Federal
and State officials, asking that Congress
prevent the further Importation or immi-
grafton Of any more Chinese, have also
issued q circular to their brother knights
all over the United States. This circular
depicts in forcible language what they con-
slider the evils OF Chinese competition IN
their own and other States, and is as fol-
lows:
The knights OF Labor of California ap.
zeal to their brethren throughout the United
states for prompt aud hearty assistance
and co.operstion. We stand face to face
With an issue which is a matter OF life and
death 10 the industrial classes OF the PACING
coast. The Chinese curse is upon us IN
all its appalling magnitude, and 1t is daily
making few encroschments upon the mar
row sphere in which there yet remains an
oppor,unity for civilized men 10 earn their
Dread. The statutes enacted tor the pur-
nose Of restricting Monaghan immigration
have been rendered entirely nugstory, n
the debasine tide is pouring in upon our
shores practically unchecked. IL 10 I'M
necessary for US to depict 10 you the lear
tul sud inevitable consequences
Civilization and barbarism here confront
ZACH other in an irrepr5ssible conflict, IN
ghich one or the other must go to the wall:
there is no affinity and no possibility OF
sfSlis,ion With them. The American Ia
owing man in former generations has
been in possession of blessings that were
nnkpogn to the mass OF tollers Throughout
the world. Il hes been our proud ooast
hitherto hat the American people, upon
,bs AVERAGE were endowed Tlth more OF
the Comforts and Injuries of lite h ieli
N the lot OF any other equal population on
me face Of the earth. 1t has been u
BOAST that the man in America VINO iol-
owed the plough, or swung the AK, or
delved in the mine, or hammered at Inc
torge. or tended the loom and the
sni15le were better housed and Ted
nd herte. educated than any
o,ber laborer on either continent. 10
sbarn contrast with this blessed hh6r.can
birtbrioht look for a moment at the horri-
No condition of the native of Asia. In
southern Asia c common lA0orer receives
"A wages about Ave silver rupees per
mo,t m and boards himself. A silVeI rupee
= abont ~ cents in value, so that the sum
,otaI of the lsboFer's earnings IS aoout
- q ner month. With this, be Is supposed
- ICED and clotha himself and family
Wbars wopld our merchants and retailers
throughout the country De II that was TIE
AVERAGE workiugman's pay Comment IS
unnecessary. The poor wretch VINO re-
o-a;ves this most miserable pitiance never
Sas and never can have, a hat on hls head
= coat on his back or q shoe on his 1907,
His onIv clothips ia : visp Of grass about
Ma loins, and his only shelter q tnaten OF
bamboo canes and palm leaves. nus uie'
:. necessarily so meagre as 70 leave p'"'
utterly de6cientin force and Vigor'
AGES Of THIS AFFECT MISERY
L.h their fearful stampupon the char
ao,er II the natives OF Asia. They nave
Seoone a s~ouIiess and spiritless Eace-Hiin
- hone without ambition, without prlde
w;,bont seltre pect, without q shade" o
asnirstion IN the future, and without tns
Sain,sst suspicion that there exists any
sDch thing as human rights; Anayet suop
Moor wretches rs these, under . spee'es y
| cSbattel mortgage, which binds them ooul
"a SopI are imported to California IN vas
J-oves At SIS per head, and let loose Gpot
| his community to work our rum. lheS
swarm ike rats along every aSenuS
and crawl through every ioopnor'
= search Of employment. Step oy step
thew are taking possession o. all our
5ostries; they have driven the p0UE WIZ
f,om the wash tub, which was ner sou
msans of obtaining bread for her helpless
oF.nT;nv: they have driven the se"lp
j from the tailor and clothing shops
e., nae taken the lap5,one from IN
csnokar. ana have stSicken the sno'e
I'd sDsde from the hands OF the NINE
,bsv have turned out the servant gFl o.,
Ia agricultural labor to wander miner an'
100. ~ a. bouseless and homeless tramp
unon onr streets and highways; meg bAr
u uPVn oS onr bows AID girls from all hope 2
oStaining employment, snd have lei. 70 10 10
r;s;ng generation of California no tesou''
toT he future but ysgrsncy ana ciin -,
ut is an iasalt 70 the respee'solhty AN Sr
manhood of an American e ,eXpee! MI
- oompete in the labor market Witn %
Seatbep Of Asia. Such competition Is - =
inter ia possibility. The conditions Of M ~
in America and Asia I so sa.AsesS "
ferent that tue Isboripg men o. ne Nv
continents can never meet on On equ'
footing. The American has q home On
\ family to support. lie is under exPens
for rent, for iusl, for food and educatp
his childran. His monthly bill Tor REM
alone equal to to total monthly eaf%'ns
of three Cinnamon in ,ha:- native lam
The Chinese In California ere act Ssy
pered By any such social duties and socli
obligations and social necessities. The
have no homes and no families. The
= practically psy 10 house rent. They pae
themselves away in narrow dens reekir
with stencil, sid more Wretched 81
al