The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-17
Enforce the Laws.

EDS. RECoRD-U MON: What is the
matter with the Republican press of this
coast that they do not call ''time'' Oh
Cleveland and the Democratic party for
the non-eniorcement of the Geary Act.
Prior to the last election the claim was
made by the Democrats that the Republic
can party was the friend OF the rich man,
that its policy was to crush and impover-
lsh the iaborer, and that the sole aim of
the Mckinley bill was to make the rich
man richer and the poor man poorer,
and 1t would seem, after the ballots were
counted, that the tariff reform" party
made its arguments hold good.
But now that the so-called poor mans
friend has absolute control of every
branch of the Government what have
they done since coming into power to
elevate and make better the condition of
the workingnan?
II was claimed by Cleveland and his
followers that the Republican party was
and always had been antag0nistic to
labor, yet here they are, for the first time
having the opportunity, not only allow
ing the same condition of affairs to exist
as existed while the Republicans were in
power, but giving no reason why they
DO not make change when they have the
power, and it is their duty to do so.
Inc non-entorc=ment ofthis Chinese law
is dong more injury to the workingman
To-Day than all the Mckinley bills that
could ever be invented could do, and by
It's actions this reform" party is proving
that 1t obtained power by false pretenses.
IL promised everything in sight before
election, but now we find it not only fail
Ing to fulfill its promises and carry out it's
pledges, but absolutely violating a law
that Will benefit and place the work
1ngman where he should be.
L hope the Republicans who voted for
cleveland ana those who did rho
thing and voted for Weaver, ana who
were led into the trap set them by the
Democrats under the claim that Harrison
ana his party were the enemies of the
poor man and the foes Of labor, now see
the error of their ways and are willing to
admit that they made a mistake.
The point L wish to make is not so
much concerning the failure of the DEM
ocratlc party 10 fulfill it, promises which
1t made prior to the last election, but for
It's failure to enforce a law that will at
once, II put into effect, entirely settle the
labor question on this coast as well as
throughout the country, and it is the
duty of the Republican press to agitate
the enforcement Of this law, and to dem
onstrate TO the people, the workingman
especially, that the relief they expected
through the ascendancy TO power OF
Cleveland and his party has not material
lied, and not likely to be.
by the apathy displayed by the Repub
lean press it would seem that it is indif-
Ierent as to whether Cleveland and his
party do their duty or not. This is not.
to my way of thinking as it should be,
For the first time a President has taken
upon hIlnseIf to set aside a law, about
which all doubt as 10 its constitutionalitv
has been settled, and violated the oath
that he took to uphold the laws and abide
by the Constitution of the country. And
yet the republican press, with very few
exceptions, sits calmly by and allows
! this state of affairs to continue without
protest. II the party in power fails to do
its duty the people should make an effort
TO see that it does.
The efforts to close the gates of the
Worlds Fair on Sunday is another illus
tration OF the friendship that the Admin
istratlon has for the Workinpman. 1t is
yielding to the pressure being brought to
bear upon 1t by the religious element of
the country to deprive the workingman
the privilege of visiting the fair on the
only day at his disposal. thereby thrust
Ing additional expense, Inconvenience
and hardship upon him, but in this its
efforts appear to be in vain
The obnoxious Mckinley bill also is
IN full operation, while the Democratic
party has the power to abolish il. Tho
claim was made by the reform party he
fore election that this bill was robbing the
rklngman-stealing the earnings from
his pocket and placing them in those of
the capitalist, and that it was keeping the
former in condition of servilitv and
degradation, yet no effort is being made
to do away with it and bring about a bet
ter state of affairs.
Perhaps after our royal guests have
gone home and all the positions in the
gift of the Executive have been distrib-
uted, the Administration will have more
time and something will be done. But
in the meantime honest labor throughout
The country IS suffering while a remedy
is at hand. and if the Administration fails
to do its duty, the people, with the assist
ance of the press, should rise as one man
and demand that relief that it is in the
power Of Cleveland and the Democratic
party to give. H. BUTTEL.
Sacramento, May H. 1893.