The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-01
SOME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON
my G A EnwARnsA

fBY C. A. EDWARDS.)
Washington, July 3e.-(staff Specially
immigration Commissioner Terrence v
powderly. the ex-labor leader. has made a
| head-on collision with very Interesting
and pulling problem and one that VIII
cause him to lose some sleep. 1t Is well
known fact that IT is against the law to
bring contract labor to this country, and
yet railroad is going to do it and 1t is
not going to be stopped by Mr.. Powderly.
He has Just received communication
from the president OF the railroad not
mentioned telling him that he is going to
bring over one thousand Italian laborers
TO work, under contract, in the island of
Hawaii on the sugar plantations, and that
he was going to take them through the
United States to San Francisco. Mr.. Pow
derly's hands are tied and he can do moth
ing.
II those laborors were going to stop in
the United States, then he could put a
stop to 1t in short order, but they are not,
and all he can do is to put the railroad
under bond to keep them moving and see
that they get to Frisco and out of the
country. But what good does that do
American labor? Those paupers are des-
tined for American soil over In Hawaii
as much as II they intended to go to the
Louisiana sugar fields. And this is not
all the story. Since Hawaii became Amer
lean territory there have been ten thous-
and Japanese landed on its shores and
every man of them under contract to work
in the sugar fields on that island. This is
all cheap labor, as cheap as can be got
anywhere on tho great round globe, and
every ounce of the muscle to be put in ac-
tive competition with the sugar raisers Of
Louisiana and Texas.
49,
Why? Simply because all the sugar
raised in Hawaii comes to this country
free of duty and therefore comes into ac
tive competition with our own sugar. If
that is not discrimination under the con-
tract labor law against the rasers of SUI
gar in this country then what would you
call it? There was a bill offered last win
ter In congress to cover this very point
1t did not become law. Why? Because
the Spreckles sugar interests in Hawaii
were sufficiently large and juicy to put
1t to sleep. There is, then, another job of
republican pigeon holing for the people of
Louisiana and Texas to take fall out of
next winter If sugar had been one of the
leading industries of New York or Ohio
there would have been a very different
story to tell, and Commissioner Powderly
would not have to sit and chew his long
err have been confronted with this outrage
on the people of two sovereign States.
But then they are democratic States, and
therefore don't count.
Some time ago wrote that Mr.. E. c. |
Madden of Detroit, backed by the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Engineers, was after
the Washington, d. c., postofice. Well, |
he didn't get it. but landed in the office |
Of third assistant postmaster general, when
6ShlAciitiu do postmaster OF
this city. Mr.. Madden has been on duty
here now for nearly month and he has
already made record As | said before,
MIR. Madden is a thorough business man
ike way. In carrying out those very I'M
Washington-like ideas he has startled the
ienizens of the postoffce department until
they regard one another with eyes that
ire unnaturally visible. He has actually
lad the temerity to get out his old Mich
gan barlow and chop red tape until the
blood came. He is regarded as an icono
,last and a menace to the positions OF some
several hundreds of the barnacles who
nave for years been an encumbrance 10
he ship of state. If he keeps on at the
present rate he will soon demonstrate that
he postofico department can be conducted
With half the force now employed and that
VIII, In the estimation of the government
zap sucker, be akin to a calamity. Just
watch the play and you will soon see sew
raj hundred hammers out for the BUSH
less-like Mr.. Madden. and then you will
ee some OF the finest fun ever put on tan
Il the capital of the Nation for the de-
ectation of the taxpayers.
~
MI Madden is here to do his duty and
o tell the truth regardless OF who IT hits {
r hurts and / much mistake the man il
10 does not stand squarely to the rack.
lie Is backed by the most powerful labor I
rganization in the country and he is here |
$ It's representative and not as a politi-
IAN He is going TO do his duty to the ,
eople first and to the administration /
econd' II in the discharge of his duty {
tho people he happens to run counter !
some of the administrators pet plans 4
nd hurts them, his motto will be: "I,et
pr hurt and be dadgummed." And. M ~
natter how much he gets himself disliked ~
Q ID going to stay right here and all tn re
ammer throwers in the postoftice depar m
lent can't get him out. a
Not long ago he was called upon n a.
'de a question and he cut the Gorfan
not IN accordance with business prici- De
les and common sense Some of tn pin
eads In the department decided thatpub- mi
shers OF newspapers and periodical,could w,