The San Francisco call., 1898-06-24
Chinese-Made Uniforms
 the Cause.
A TELEGRAPHIC BOOMERANG
BUSINESS MEN REFUSE TO IN DORSE THE ARMY OFFICER.
The Labor Unions and State Officials Take Hand ill the Inter- ests of White
 Workers.

An interesting condition of affairs has arisen out of the letting of contracts for making uniforms for Uncle Sams sol- diers to contractors who have had and are having the work done by Chinese. As soon as the discovery was made that Chi nese were making these uniforms, while hundreds of white people are only too anxious to get the work, the matter was published in all of the local papers and even the papers of the entire State had something to say about the injustice of the transaction. Nowhere was the letting of the work to Mongolians more con- demned than in the labor unions. Major Long of the local Quartermaster's Depart ment, who let the contracts In question, was called to task, by public voice at least, and he assumed the position that the contracts were let to white men and that he did not believe that the work was being done by Chinese. He further Stip- ulated that if such proved to be the case he would cancel such contracts at once.
 It did not take very long to find where a goodly number of Chinese were engaged in the business. In the meantime the la Dor union folks asked the State Labor Commissioner to direct the attention of the officials at Washington to the injus- uce. which he did. addressing his letter to Congressman Mcguire. The letter from the California Labor Commissioner was sent to Secretary of War Russell A. Alger by Mcguire, who made the following addi- tion:
 WASHINGTON, D. C.. June f. 1s9s
 Hon. Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.-Slr: I am in receipt of the enclosed letter and newspaper clipping from San Francisco, to which 1 respectfully call your attention. The people of San Francisco have been enduring an unprecedented period of hard times, from which they have not yet recovered and therefore feel "reatly aggrieved that at such a time work required by their pr11an ShOnl6 ha u- patriotic contractors to Chinese labor, while they excluded from the opportunity to share in the employment; 1 am sure that the state of affairs set forth by Labor Commis- sioner Fitzgerald in the enclosed letter Is con trary to the intention of the Government. and trust that you will be able to find speedy and satisfactory remedy for the injustice of which our people complain in the matter Yours respectfully. JAMES c. MAGUIRE. M. C..
 A short time after the Congressman re- ceived a formal note, accompanied by copy of a telegram sent by Major Long to the department, both Of which are here given, and which were sent to Com missioner Fitzgerald:
 First indorsement War Department Guar spectfully returned to Hon. J. G. Mcguire, House of Representatives, whose attention is invited to the accompanying copy of telegram from the post quartermaster at San Fran cseG 2r Gs1 4gM gPSn S91 RFu6}eeE G}sSERAL U
 SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, June '. 1Sss
 Ouartermaster-Ge General, Washington, D. C.: This department does not and has not know ingly during my incumbency employed Chinese labor on uniforms or. anything else manufae- tured contracted for here. On two early contracts made some weeks ago I discovered that Chinese labor was being employed and i'm mediately cancelled contracts. Representatives of labor organizations visited me- and after satisfied I invited them to investigate and assist in ascertaining which contractor em- once annul contracts. All contracts and orders require white labor only to be employed. It