The herald., 1894-04-06
GOMPERS GOES FOR GRESHAM.
He Criticises the New Chinese
Treaty.
A Kick in the Name of Organized
Labor.
vIce-President Stevenson Requested to
Lay the Protest of she Works
ingmen Before the
senate.
BY the Assooiated Press.

BY the AEeociated Press.
New YoRK, April 5. Samuel Com.
pers. president OF tho American Fedora.
tion OF Labor, had addressed letter to
Vice-Pfesident Stevenson, protesting
against the ratification by the senate OF
the proposed Chinese treaty. After re-
citing the fact OF the publication OF
what purports to be the treaty, the au-
shenticity OF which has been denied, ne
SAYS
'''ro say we are surprised and dis
tressed that the administration OF our
country should negotiate a treaty of the
character named-practically surrend-
ering to the government OF China rights
which have. been struggled for and
achieved, is, to say the least, putting it
mildly.
1.-The Scott exclusion act and the
Geary law were not passed in response
to a maudlin sentiment or national
antipathy. They. were not passed as an
experiment. but as the result OF sore
trials and the absolute necessities OF our
people. This became q law at the ear.
nest demand Of the toiling masses OF
our country. t4t-f.
at is needless here to discuss the inn
possibility OF the analgamation or as
eimilation OF Chinese in America with
our people. That has been so clearly
demonstrated as to need no elucidaton
at my hands. am sure no senators
will need to be convinced that
II the plans of the Scott and
| Geary laws have in q measure been
successfully evsded and violated by the
/ Chinese, in consequence OF the elasticity
of their consciences and their disregard
for any oath or affirmation, they will
have no difficulty to prove they have
| lawful wives, children or parents in the
United States, or property therein ol
| the value of $1,000, or debts OF like
amount. In fact the safeguards OF the
present law by which the American peo
pie can be protected against the whole
sale invasion OF Chinese laborers are
swept aside by this proposed treaty.
"At present an awful problem con.
fronts ue. The appalling eight is wit
| messed of millions of our fellow men and
women actually idle and literally with
out the means OF sustaining life. II al
any other time the floodgates of immi.
grafton should be opened, certainly in
| the presence OF such crisis, wisdom,
patriotism, statesmanship and humanity
now forbid the step.
"The laws now upon our statute
1 books in reference to Chinese immi'
grafton have been the result of due de-
| liberation and meet the wants of oul
people. The proposed treaty has beer
negotiated in darkness and secrecg.
The peopie not--awure tnat tnei'
rights are about to be invaded and thei
interests destroyed. or we would witness
such an expression OF determination OF
their part that would cause the, senat
to pause before this new blight is PLACED
= ~-OuUv Uuo iuJ6n5ity OF feellnl
upon, this subject. give official aanctioI
to the publicity OF this treaty and tim,
for the people to demonstrate thei
position upon it. You will then be con
vinced that apart from few sentiment
slists the American people are practi
caliy unit against its ratification.
I'm the name of more than half s
million organized workmen and women
OF America, enter my earnest protest
against the ratification of the treaty by
your honorable body. and earnestly
hope it will be rejected"
Mr.. Gompers asks that the vice presi,
dent submit this protest to the senate,