Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-14
Mr. johnson Says That is the Pur-
pose Of His Bill.
RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION
Comments of Labor Leaders on the
Proposed Measure.
A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION

There would be no labor troubles in
this country" said Congressman Johnson
of California to Star reporter, eff there
was work for all those who are compelled
to labor, and it is to bring about this de-
sirable result that have introduced into
Congress bill to protect the American
laborer from unfair competition and to pre-
vent foreign-born laborers from coming to
the United States
1.-THE BILL" continued Mr.. johnson, PRO
poses that from and after August l, 1896.
1t shall be unlawful for any foreign-bor
laborer to enter the United States, and by
this is intended to include skilled and I'M
skilled laborers employed in mining. The
object of the bill is exactly what 1t states
and it has been offered in Congr.s in pur-
suance of instructions from the republican
party in California The republican state
convention of California that nominated
all the six Congressman from that state
passed q resolution In favor of the protec-
ton >of American labor, and instructed the
congressman to endeavor to have passed
a law by which this scheme could be car
ried into effect
My idea is that there is enough labor in
this country to supply the demand; that
wages are now on a starvation basis and
that the more laborers are brought from
the old world the lower wages will become
here. The manufacturers of the country
have been protected for manv years in
the sale of their goods, and 1 think the
time has come when the laborer who pro-
duces these goods ought to be protected also.
The manufacturer is always sure to get
cheap labor If he can, and 1t has been to
great extent for their accommodation
and profit that so many thousands of for
eigners are yearly landed on these shores.
This has led to the legislation in the past
against the importation of contract labor,
which was formerly brought here by the
shipload to take the places of men that
| were already in the country and working
| for as low rate as an American laborer
ought to work.
Il believe in a good days price for
| good days work, and If my bill becomes a
law it will go long way toward securing
| this desirable result. There will be no
doubt about the passage of the bill If the
| laboring people of the country will take it
| up and study it with the care they should.
"A few moments reflection will convince
any thinking man that labor has the same
right to receive protection from Congress
| as has capital, or, in other words, the man
| ufacturers. Bills have been introduced by
| several members Of Congress which arc
| aimed to keep out the illiterate and poor
| but laws Of that kind can be easily evaded
| On the other hand, my bill, II it becomes a
| law, can be easily enforced.
The Question of Constitutionality.
THE Supreme Court Of the United States
| has already affirmed the constitutionality
of the Chinese exclusion act. hence there is
no doubt my bill is perfectly constitutional
THE steamship companies are greatly to
| blame for the condition in which the labor
| ing people of this country are today. They
spread in Europe the most alluring ac-
| counts Of the wealth of this country.
| would make all captains and masters of
| vessels entering the ports of the United
| States responsible for the character of the
| passengers they bring here and prescribe
a heavy penalty for bringing any person
who is excluded by law. In our state we
| feel the crowding of the labor market less
| than in the states east of the Rocky noun
| tains, but we see what the result of over
| competition has been in such places as
Pittsburg and Allegheny and other manu-
| featuring centers, well as the mining
districts, and we want not only to keep
the blight from reaching u.s. but We desire
to relieve our brethren who are now suf-
fering from this cause as speedily as pos
sible
1.-The Federation of Trades in the city OF
Sacramento. where 1 live, has Informed
me that they have been in communication
with members of their organization in
various parts of the country in reference
to the prohibition of the coming of for
eignerS to the United States and that they
heartily approve the movement, while the
papers of California, both republican and
democratic, indorse with great unanmity
the bill 1 have laid before Congress.
believe that there are excellent chonces for
the passage of the BILL outside of any eX.
ira efforts which may be made in thai
direction, but 1 think the laboring people
throughout the country ought for theiI
own sake, to interest themselves heartily
in the movement"
Views of knights of Labor.
In referring to Mr.. Johnson's bill, Gen
eral Worthy Foreman NJ. ]. Bishop of the
knights Of Labor said:
In giving any opinion the merits OF
House bill 2S, introduced by Representative
Johnson of California, and intended to en-
tirely prohibit emigration to this country,
desire to say few words by way Of preface
In all organizations the subject of the re-
oeption Of the emigrant is a grave one, and
there exists much difference of opinion. Nc
organization has, adopted any special rule
governing its members, except in the case
of the Chinese, and any expression of mine
will be simply individual, except that my
official position may tend to give it undue
weight.
am, under present industrial conditions
unQualifedly in favor Of any measure which
will materially restrict, or entirely prohibit
the importation of skilled or unskilled work
ers, who make still harder the task of the
American citizen of today. We have a pres
ent law governing the Importation OF
foreign labor under contract, which is not
worth the paper upon which it is written
and in my own city of Boston (and 1 have
no doubt the same conditions exist in all
other cities) any number of aliens can be
secretly arranged for, and will be imported
in six weeks from the time the order is
given. written guarantee will be giver
that these men will work for 81 80 per day
will never strike, and an Interpreter will be
furnished free with every gang, all done III
such a manner as to preclude the possibility
of conviction under the alien contract labor
law.
THE system of competition in vogue com
| pels men to be unjust as a matter of sell
preservation. Theoretically of course, it IL
| a barbarous thing to say that no man OIL
| woman can come here to better their condi
| ton over the deniZens of the old world. But
it is not question of lettering their condi
ton; it is a question of rapidly reducing u:
to their present condition, and it is also 6
question of immensely impeding our pro
| gress towards the time when America shall
be in truth the star in the industrial world
toward which the children of all nation:
shall gaze with hope. I am citizen by &C
cident, as most citizens are, for which 1 de
. serve no credit am resident from choice
certain conditions obtain which 1t is essen
, tial to change in order to produce the hes
results, for this generation as well as DOS
terity; the possibility of securing such ;
change is largely lessened, If not entirel,
prevented, by the constant inroads of horde
Of illiterate, ignorant, and poverty-stricken
non English-speaking emigrants and, as
cannot consistently oppose the admission O
! one class without melting out the same medi
! cine to ALL am in favor of barring the doc
+ of admission to the United States until suc]
. conditions are in force as will enable us t,
throw them wide open and welcome the ma