Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-17
A SERIOUS PHASE OF THE CHINESE
QUESTION.

At an anti-Chinese meeting at Nacaville
phase of the question presented itself
that cannot be ignored. The sentiment of
the meeting was nquestionably in favor
Of restricting Chinese immigration and of
Kidding the country of Chinese laborers
but it developed, according to statements
by Representatives of fruit districts, that to
do the latter suddenly will work not only
hardship, but serious injury to industrial
interests. Vacaville is in the midst of a
rich fruit belt, and the season is not far
distant when an immense fruit crop must
be gathered, and representatives of the
eruit interests assert, in all sincerity, that
II cannot now be done without Chinese
labor. When there is furnished trained
labor to supplant it, then" say the horti-
culturists, eve will employ it," But they
add that this is not now to be had.
The boycott is driving the Chinese from
towns to cities but when the application
OF II comes to be made to the country. in
the midst of the fruitage and harvest
season, there will be not only great hard
ship, but in many cases possible total loss
OF crops. This is the plant of the intelli-
gent cultivators and it is made with
such eandor, and so earnestly, that it must
command respect, and is not to be dismissed
with word. These industrians protest,
IN short, against Chinese expulsion any
faster than there is made substitution for
their labor. \ San Francisco paper YES
terday reported one of the great fruit
growers Of the State as saving that the
present agitation threatened to entail upon
his people the loss of hundreds of
thousands of dollars and it is certain that
this is thebelief of all the leading fruit
growers and agriculturists of the State.
He says:
In Tehama county alone there are fully . 300
Chinese, nearly all of whom are engaged in ag-
Ilcultural pursuits such as working in vine
yards, orchards, vegetable gardens retaining
land ami the like. Mind YOU, am not n lover
OF the Chinese. but am only discussing that
part OF the proposition which puts dollars and
cents into the business mans pocket or aiea
robs him. Many of the Chinese in Tebsi1e
county have large tracts of land which they
nold under leases OF ten years for the most pari
In the majority of instances such landhoiders
are under contract to develop the land by plant
ing fruit trees vines and the like taking as
tneir share half the increase. Many acres IN
ger sucn cultivation have not as yet begun to
pear, and OF course the lessees have not real
lied anything fiom them In the Instances
cited can there be any right TO drive by Duhlic
clalnor or violence the Chinese from their prop
erty Last week a committee of influential
and cool-headed business men from the north
ern district of the State waited upon Goyernor
stoneman anu informed him of the condition of
Things, and told him that Butte Tehama aud
Eolusa counties would suffer enormous losses if
tne Csncse are going to be driven away inst
about tine ior. gathering the fruit crop. one
gentleman said that nearly 100000 O00 is the
amount OF capital represented in vines orchards
ana the like in the State and that 10 nicE and
PACK the fruit crop requires experts The most
OF the crop must be handled during three
months IN the year. These gentlemen stated
that under the most favorable circunstances II
would be simply impossible to replace the pres
ent expert Chinese labor in any less time than
eight years. | have no doubt they were very
well qualified to know and speak positiyelv 7
nave no doubt that II the Chinese were driven
out OF Iehama county it would set that county
back fully ten years. You cannot suddenly
create a vacuum IN the matter of skilled Iehnr
and at once fill that void with unframed labor
without serious loss. This, you see. is NOT mo-
Chinese talk, but cold calculation of profit and
loss. ''-'e'
The interview tn, n goes on to state that
raw hands cannot displace the skilled ones
and that even if they could they are not
here in sufficient number So, they hold,
We viii do ourselves exceeding great in
Jury and deal roductive industries. that
contribute to the support of all the people
OF the State, blow from which they will
be long in recovering, if we carry the boy
colt to the extent of suddenly depriving
them OF Chinese labor The grower re-
ferred to added:
What | advocate is that every man ON this
coast should put forth his individual labor To
secure irom the East or Europe desirable white
Immigration TO this coast We ought to offer
every Involvement for such labor but the com
mcnest principles of business and the yerjest
rt;aimenis of trade compel me to use whatever
labor is available.
We have before alluded to this subject,
aid clearly pointed cut that, while the
boycott is terrible weapon, and one
against which not even TIE bayonet will
avail. there is such thing as making it
cruel and inhuman to our own people.
There should he courage and wisdom
enough among the friends of the anti
Chinese movement TO face the facts. To
close the eyes to them is folly. The free
labor in the State has been corrupted and
sienoralized ty contact with Chinese