The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-05-18
JAPANESE CONTRACT LABOR.

JAPANESE CONTRACT LABOR
The little protection that the Ameri-
can IabOring man has had for num-
Der Of years through the operation Of
the Chinese exclusion act, is not long
to be a defense to him unless legisla-
tive enactment comes to his rescue.
The prOhibitive agitation which be
gan In 1877 arising from the impOrta-
ton of COolie Chinese labor, was very
great especially in California and other
states and territories on the Pacific
coast. After many scenes Of violence
and bIoOdshed, congress was forced to
take remedial steps in the matter, and
at the sessions Of 1872, a measure was
passed prohibiting the importation Of
COOlie Chineee labor for 20 years. In
1902 this restriction viii be removed
by the expiration of the law.
The condition under which we now
live should emphasize the fact that
America is for the most advanced and
thrifty people of the civilized world,
and not an asylum for abandoned and
Outcast people, which the practices OF
oriental tyrrany and slOth have made.
The brotherhood Of man is a good sub
ject to talk about when referring to q
common fatherhOOd, in which is seen
one blood and a common origin of all
men, but the presaged meIlenium is
not yet come: men have not ceased to
squeeze the life out of the fellow with
whom he meets whenever personal gain
aecrUes therefrOm; since corporate
power takes no cognizance. of a fellow
feeling, labor has to keep an eternal
violence to preserve the rights that
they now have;-au these cOnsidera-
lions demand the exclusion Of any eIe-
ment that would work more Ill and
bring distress to numerous homes.
A few years ago the japanese seemed
TO win the plaudits of the world in
their contest and victory over China,
and the American people looked upon
them as a national force that before
many years would forge their way to
the front and walk beside the leading
powers Of the earth, but a generation
cannot make a great man or a great ma
ton Hence our sanguine hopes have
had the bottom knocked from them by
the importation Of japanese contract
labor to the Pacific coast, which shows
that 'there is something rotten in the
State Of Denmark
Nothing seems to cause such distress
IN society as that which accompanies
economic disorder, and every Ameri-
can free man displaced by the intro
ductiOn Of cheap labor tends to bring
about an agitation not easily or imme-
diately remedied.
Recently the Rio Grande Western
railroad, following the example Of the
Union Pacific, have introduced mum
bers Of japanese as section hands on a
large portion Of the main line. These
labOrers are direct from Japan, and
came into this country under contract
The section bosses, who are white
men, being unable to endure such sur
roundings have resigned their posi-
tions.
OF course, the railroad managers dis
avow any attempt to 60 into the whole
sale business Of contract labor, and
give as their reason that white mer
cannot be induced to work on the long
stretches of desert through which theT
road passes. If that we're true, should
not, then, the company give them {
white mans wages?
The fact Is the American 1sboriDe
man has to compete in the most OpeI
market Of the world, while capitalists
and corporations are fattened by the
operation of high protective tariff.