Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-30
AN INTERESTING RECORD.
The Republican Party Has Been Foe to
Honest Labor.

dOneu L8DoEs
Exchange.
The Michigan Democratic Convention
charged upon the Republican party the 70
sponsibility for ''ths psrricious system Of
imported ccnvic. labor" Oitoune this
serious accusation is disliked, bet we'll in
formed Republicans do no. undertake to
deny it, for they know it is true. Mr..
Sherman, for example, is not saying o
wore. for he was the chief promoter OF the
legislation to which ths Michigan Demo
cTets refer.
The first and, 90 far ss we bsve been
able to investigate the matter, the only
Law Of CoDgrsss su'h,rizing the Imports
ton of foreigners to labor fer stated time
in place of American worsingmen WAS
passed when both Houses OF CoDgtess were
overwhelmingly Republican. There was
not the slightest opposition to the bill By
any Republican in either House. John
Sherman champioDei il in the Senate and
E. B. Washburne, of Iilinois, cared for 1t
in the House Of representatives..
The bill is entitled IAN Act to Eococr
aga Immigration. On ths ID OF July,
1864. it passed both Houses on confet-
ence report, Sherman and Anthony sign
ing on behalf Of the Senate, Wsshburns
and Windon on the part OF the House.
The Democratic conierrees refused to sign.
| PIesi6ent Lincoln approved this bill ON
July 4, that being the last day OF the SEE
SON. We do Lot imagine that ne c'uld
have been induced to put his name to such
q shameful bill if hs had had time to tx-
anime j.. Coming to him with piles OF
other bills in the rush attend ng the close
Of O session. he signed it in 6 paIfunciory
manner. This explanation is duo to the
mamcry of President whose sympothies
were with labor.
Awriter who investigated this subj act
some years ago says: The managers VI
the bill exhibited hot impatience to put it
through before the close Of the session.
On June 81, on motion of Mr.. Sherman,
call prior orders" Of the Senate were poet
ponsd, and the bill waa taken up and
passed, the ground Of haste being, as
stated by the Ohio Senator, that Wsg
wero very high" in this country, ana We
needed importation en- that account. Ia
the House Thad Stevens had moved to 60
into Committee ofthe Whole on one of the
great appropriation bills, bat withdrew
bis motion on Washburne' 9 earnest apI cal,
and the paupsr, alien, contract labor bill
was passed without word of manly Cppo-
sition from the Republican side, the Demo
Gratis beipg 60 few in that House that they
could not enforce the demand of Mr.. Pen
dletcn, of Ohio, for call Of the yeas and
nays.
The act that passed provided for Com
missioner OF Immi2ratIon, but was con-
strued by the Republican State Depart
ment to create Bureau of Immigration
The Commissioner was to have clerk IN
Washington and superintendent in New
York. Ho wss empowered to make rules
and regulations and 20 autEor:zj C ,ntracts
to be made fer the Importation Of immi-
grants from abroad, which contrscss The
law declared should be valid and enforce
able ia thu courts Of the United States.
"All contractJ," the act provided, that
shall be made with emigraats to the United
States in Foreign countries, in conformity
to regulations that may be established by
the said Commissioner, whereby EMP rants
shall pledge the wages of their labor for O
term not exceeding twelve months to 70.
pay the expenses of their emigration, shall
be held 10 re valid In law" Ii wss pro-
vided, also, thst the emig-ant's agreement
TO repay the amount advanced fer lis
passsge money aud expenses should be g
lien upon any real estate he might acquire
under the Homestead act or otherwise and
should have tbs effect Of o mortgage.
The outrag Gus law stood on the statute
book in full force until 1885, when re-
pealirg bill, originating in democratic
House. passci tee Republican Senate. We
trust Nj Sherman enjoys this part of his
sinuous record?