The evening times., 1897-03-03
The Steamship Veto.

| EOi tie Etdsoue gwen, anu OUTFITS not
specifically stated" President Cleveland
has vetoed the Immigration bill. As the
reasons mot specifically stated" have
been much the most important in produc-
ing the result, they properly should be
| first considered.
Opposition to the bin just done to death
by Grover Cleveland as an appropriate
valedictory act, has come from identi-
caIly the same power and influence which
has fought everything intended to sub
serve the interests OF the plain people of
this country during the entire administra-
ton. It's antagonism to this particular
measure is twofold. In the first place, it
has been the settled policy OF organized
monopoly TO encourage the Importation
of cheap foreign labor, and the more the
better, in order TO overcrowd and depress
the labor market in the United States
The successful operation or this policy has
enabled monopolistic corporations to pre-
vent the organization OF American labor in
any way sufficiently effective to control
its share of the increment OF all those ma
tional activities which have made billion
aires Of the great master class, while they
have not saved the workingman from a
rapid descent toward the condition of
peonage.
A second and distinct opposition has
been furnished by the great immigrant car
riers, the transatlantic steamship lines
Their interest in the matter is obvious.
Much If not all OF their dividend paying
ability arises from the business OF bring
ing cargoes Of the most undesirable popu-
lation Of Europe and dumping them upon
our shores, to create more, and still more
competition with our own laborers and
artisans in the struggle for bread. and
to keep wages for all work down to the
starvation line. That steamship influenee
and the system it encourages have been
potent factors in forming presidential con
olusions, while another consideration con-
nected with the highest conception of
good politics. perhaps has been even Of
greater weight.
The consolidated syndicate OF all the
foreign financial, trust and corporate
elements, that succeeded in winning the
campaign of 1896 for the prosperity de
stIoying single gold standard. did so only
with the aid of the foreign vote. That
money and monopoly power recognizes
that the greater the volume Of the foreign
vo.e, the easier it viii be TO control future
elections. In the vast excess OF native
American ballots cast for MI. Bryan, it
sees the handwriting on the wall, and
naturally it proceeds TO paint out that
legend with as many coats OF foreign
votes as ii can manage to secure. The
foregoing are the reasons mot specifically
stated" for the veto.
Those assigned are comparatively unim-
portant They are such as the text and
intent of the bin would naturally suggest
TO hypocrisy. Mr.. Cleveland, or whoever
wrote and signed the message for him,
contemplates with joy the grand results
OF the old policy, which enabled the Presi-
dents friends TO defeat his party and
elect Republican Executive, and he does
not think the idea concerning an over
crowded labor market of much account
with the advent of settled and whole
some financial and economic government
al policies the sufferings OF the working
class will be alleviated Ito a great extent |
at least" He objects TO shutting out from |
employment in the United states, people |
who live across the border and spend their |
earnings in foreign country.
The veto message is Iabored and rather |
clever attempt to cloak the real reason why |
the wolf must have the lamb for his din
ner. But the friends of the lamb are most |
OF them Of age and not to be humbugged. |