The morning call., 1893-05-19
THE CORPORATE ALLIES OF THE
COOLIES,

1t Is only few weeks since the former
president of the Southern Pacific of Ken
lucky dscoursed at some length on the
value of the Chinese as a labor element in
California. The steamers in the Chinese
trade which that corporation controls
have made money in bringing to California
some thousands of Chinese. These profits
were reduced by the restrictions that have
been placed on this Importation. Accord
ing to the views which have been an
nounced from time to time by those acting
in the interest of this corporation the more
Chinese who come to this country the bet
ter All restriction laws are bad snd
ought to be broken down.
The Instance of the employment Of thou
sands of Chinese in the building of the
Central Pacific Railroad is on frequent
occasions cited as an illustration of the
value of such labor. 1t has been affirmed
over and over again that this continental
railroad could not have been constructed
without Chinese labor. There never has
been any good foundation for such a
declaration. The Central Pacific Rail
road Company had a large subsidy
from the Federal Government. 1t was
large enough to build the road and
put millions into the pockets of the
directors. Every mile of the road could
have been profitably constructed with
white labor just as the Union Pacific was
constructed from the Missouri River west
ward to Ogden. 1t might have taken a
year or two longer and the profits would
have been somewhat less though immense.
1t has been held by. good engineers that
not less than hundred miles of road were
added to the Central Pacific that ould not
have been needed If the mosl direct route
had been sought. All these additional
miles increased the gains of the company
The Chinese. as matter of fact did add
millions to the profits of the company
which had been lavishly subsidized to con-
struct the road. Whatever the advantages
of utilizing cheap Chinese labor were the
greater part accrued to five or six men.
They made many millions by the importing
and employing of 10000 aliens.
From that time to this all the Influence
of this great corporation has been found
on the side of cheap Chinese labor. Its
chartered ships have brought them to the
country at profit Oh each head. The re-
tanned legal counselors of the corporation
were very near to the case recently on
Gilhl III tHo oupItme OOuTl. Hey eX-
pected to see the law broken down. Now
that the law has been sustained they find
no consolation in the result.
These are part of the opposing forces
that have been these many years arrayed
against the people. 1t is well to take note
of these facts now. The men who have
made millions out of Chinese labor are not
expected to change their practice if they
can help 1t. But they do not represent the
best interests of this State nor of the whole
country. The prosperity of California has
been hindered by the so-called Chinese
cheap labor which few capitalists have
been interested in bringing in to the ex-
clusion of white labor. The changes have
been rung on the bold assertion that great
Industrial enterprises could not be carried
on here without this Chinese element.
This statement is set against the fact that
many import MT enterprises have been
successfully conducted without such labor.
1t is as true now as it has been at any for
mer time that this so-called cheap labor is
used to crowd out white labor. to the
positive hindrance OF permanent growth.
At no former time had this alien element
been greater menace to the best interests
OF the country than when the restriction
act became law. The opposing forces
have lost much and the industrial forces
OF the country have gained much.