The San Francisco call., 1897-11-02
LABOR'S PROTEST AGAINST COOLIES

OS ANGELES Workngmen have been not only among
the first but among the eearest and most foeble in
pressing the opposition of American labor to the scheme
for annexng Hawaii with its hordes of coolies These
have seen in California the effect of Chinese competition upon
the welfare wagewokers of the white race and not
willing rob The Hawaans of their country for the sake of
opening way for the Chinese to enter country.
In q letter to HE CALL published yesterday, M. M
McGlynn, member of the organizing committee of the
Council of Labor in Los Angeles, points out that there is not
single cogent argument for annexation that does not smack
robbery, actual premeditad declares From the
viewpoint of wag ewoker the Pacific Coast can but
protest against the addition already overcowded labor
markets of 6oooo 10000 cheap wageworkers And
dare deny that this would be of the first
suits of annexation"
Captain F. B. Colver editor of the Labor World Los
Angeles, who has given to this SUBJECT much study and
careful thought declares communication THE CALL
should be the settled policy of this Government not
only carefully watch at the Golden Gate but at He'll Gate
that the pauper labor of Europe and Asia is dumped
upon our shores Why territory in which no
American workngman successfully compete with three
ourths of the population of island far from Shores
and who have sympathy with American ideas and customs,
and who are ilterate and dangerous? say emphatic
ally, no!
would be folly to suppose that these expressions repre-
sent the sentiments of labor California only The interests
of all American wagewokers the this The
the East but wherever is understood the voice of the
wagewoker is against annexation. Captain Cover fully
justified in asserting the opinion that the 100000 in
the ranks of organized labor throughout the United States
would be unit in opposition to annexation if they but knew
the facts of the case"
AS the time approaches for the meeting of Congress the
workngmen of the country will become active in oppos
ing this scheme of grab and cheap labor which being
ningy exploited under the guise of patriotic for
the extension of territory. Wokingmen be deceived
of the tme but all the time This question has
been before the country long enough for the people to
clearly all that is involved in it, and result popular oppo
on has become manifest that the promoters of the
ect would dare submit it vote of the people
whole.
We cannot impose Government upon the Hawaiians
against their without violating the principles of the
Declaration of independence and the spirit of political in
Stitutons We make this aggression against weak
people without diminishing for all time the force of
protest against similar of oppression by other nations
We do this wrong without ncng upon ourselves the
wrong of exposing workngmen the competition of the
coolies in Hawaii and subjscng the growing industry of
production in California to that in the islands Is any
der that intelligent wokngmen proud of the high traditions
of their country and devoted the welfare of American labor
should protest against scheme which threatens injury to all