The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-10
JAPANESE IMMIGRATION.

The treaty just signed by Secretary of
State Gresham places Japan on the foot
ing OF the most favored nations in respect
to immigration, as we'll as in other mat
tiers. The right of Japanese labOrers to
come to the United States is limited only
by the following recognition of the law
making power of the United States:
1t is, however, understood that the stipula-
tons contained in this and the preceding ar
tlcle 90 not In any way affect the laws Ordi-
nances and regulations with regard TO trade.
immigration of laborers, police and public Sc
curity which are in force, or which may here
after be enacted in either of the two countries.
This means that any restrictions of i'm
migration which is applied to other
coun tries may also be applied to Japan.
Japanese laborers may be denied admis-
sion under the contract labor act or any
similar enactment that may be made. The
stipulation is that the immigration of
Japanese shall not be especially restricted.
1t is an agreement on the part of our Gov
eminent that no law OF the character of
the Chinese restriction acts shall be passed.
Assuming that this treaty shall become
the law of the land, it greatly broadens
the range of anti-imm igration laws. Con-
gress will be required in the future to
make such laws general in their applica-
ton. The alternative will be open to
Congress to let down all bars and allow
laborers from all parts of the world TO
come to this country or 10 put up the bars
against the laborers from all countries.
We cannot admit the skilled laborer of
Europe without admitting like aborers
from Japan. Of course laws prohibiting
unskilIed laborers from all countries to
land NAV be enacted. but as there is de-
gree of skill in all labor such law will be
difficult of enforcement. The moral effect
of this treaty will be to secure liberal
Interpretation of the Chinese treaty under
which Chinese laborers are given the right
to land under conditions with which the
public is familiar The question will be
as to why we should have one policy for
Japan and another FOR China. The JAP
anese are as cheap workers as the Chinese,
and If there are not as many of them at
home there are enough in either country
to radically change the conditions of labor
in the United States. The question we
have to consider is not the intelligence of
the japanese, their skill and courage in
war, their religion or non-religion, but the
effect of competition with them. Their
labor is of so little value at home that
they are contracted to man-dealers 10 the
Hawaiian Islands and other places at
rates that would be destructive to our
labor standard. Their average wages
in their own country are not more
than about oue-tenth Of the aver
age in the United States, even IN
der the approach to free trade which
Mr.. Cleveland has succeeded in giving u.s.
Are our working men and women prepared
to compete with 10-cent a day labor? If
they are they should remain silent aud let
the Senate ratify this proposed treaty.
Employers are as vitality Interested as en-
ployes. There can be no market for goods
unless the lab0rer is so paid as to be able
to purchase something more ;han the bare
necessaries of life.
With its free trade notions and its free
immigration policy the administration is
creating tremendous issue for the coming
Presidential campaign.