Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-11-02
An Impending Crisis.

IS 1t Possible That Having Eyes They See Not,
and Having Ears Laborers Hear Not, the
Things so Nearly Concerning Their Temporal
Salvation?
Vote for living wage. Vote for a
wall against the Philippine Chinese.
The United States Court has held that
the Constitution does follow the flag.
That means that the Colonial policy
OF the Republican leaders cannot be
carried out without all our Colonial
doors being thrown wide open for tho
incoming of cheap labor of every de-
scription. There are six hundred
thousand Chinese in the Philippine
Islands, to say nothing of the millions
OF FilipinOs themselves. If McKin-
ley's policy is indorsed at the polls,
everyone of these cheap men can come
to this coast tomorrow. Naturally,
these Coast States will be the first and
the greatest losers. They would land
here and most of them would remain
here. The climate is very like their
own and besides there are a great
many of their countrymen already
here. Within a year after the adop-
ton of the Republican Colonial policy
by the people of this country the Chi
nese population Of California, Oregon
and Washington will he increased by
a half a million. That means the dis
placement OF an equal number OF
American laborers. That means that
the half million white men displaced
will be compelled to enter into i'm
mediate and sharp competition with
white labor undisplaced. That means
that all wages must necessarily be re-
duced. The Republicans are claiming
great things in the way Of increase in
the earnings Of American labor dur.
ing the past ten years, and yet the re-
port OF that department OF the Census
Bureau which deals with labor ques-
tions shows that on a scale of one
hundred, American labor is receiving
to-day over the amount received in
1891 but 3 43-10O, in other words, a
wage that was 81 a day in 1891 is
$1.O3 43-100 to-day. Is the situation
OF the wsge-earners of this country
80 exceptionally good that they can,
without fear, contemplate the whole
sale importation OF Asiatic Coolie
labor?
The decision of the United States
Court, holding that the Chinese ex-
clusion act cannot be invoked against
labor coming to our shores from any
of our island possessions, has created
no little CONSERVATION among promi-
nent Republicans in this State and in
this city. And no wonder, for they
are public-spirited enough to deeply
deplore the possibility OF anything
SO highly detrimental to our own
community interests. They are shrewd
enough, also, to see at once how far
this question, as it is now presented, is
likely to influence the voters of this
coast. Even now they are beginning
to justify and qualify the proposition
as far as the facts will permit. They
undertake:to say that the danger is
not q great one, for the reason that
there are no more than 100000 Chi
nese in the Philippines, and that the
Chinese exclusion act can be made
operative as to any greater number
entering our Island possessions. The
Philippine Archipelago consists of
something more than 1900 Islands
and have our Republican friends taken
into consideration the practical i'm.
possibility Of patrolling and policing
the entire Coast line of more than
1900 Islands, in order to prevent the
incoming of Chinese who desire to
make that archipelago q halfway
house to America. Should we employ
our entire navy in connection with
this work We could not expect to do
more than slightly check the move
ment Of coolie Chinese upon America,
which is sure to follow upon the open.
ing of the doors between our island
possessions and the mother country.
The GOO, 900 Chinese who are to-day in
the Philippines will be but tithe of
the leprous horde who will inundate
our Pacific Coast States. And for
every NANCY mongel who puts his foot
upon our shores home-building head
of an American family will have to
take his place in the great army of un-
employed, that will move through the
highways OF this country. The stu
alton is a menace to the whole coun-
try, but especially does it hang like a
great darger-cloud over these Pacific
States. Shall we vote to bring it to
pass?
The Bryan Clubs of the whole ma
tion, by recommendation of President
Hearst, will meet Saturday, to ex-
change opinions and make arrange.
ments for the grand rally at the polls
ten days later, for the perpetuation of
the best government the sun has ever
shown upon. Never before has the
American heart been aroused, in times
of neace tn such q mitch of annrehen.