The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-27

and untrustworthy and such men we
cannot afford to have around.
Now remember these conditions do
not apply to the loyal American work
man, but to the tramp who in a measure
is the offshoot OF all races and peoples
Where II has been possible for the Great
Northern to secure white laborers TO do
the work required. in the past, we have
employed them and this same policy We
will maintain in the future, but because OF
the conditions that exist at the present
time We should not be condemned for
keeping at work aliens who are doing
their duty we'll
Mr.. MeIIen's Views.
Mr.. Mellen. when seen at his car and
asked If 1t was true. that the Northern
Pacific has imported alien laborers TO
work along his road. smiled.
II can hardly think thar anyone will
charge the Northern Pacific with such a
violation of the law" he said. ITO my
positive knowledge our road has never
imported man into this country 10 go
to work at anything We have always
given free transportation TO all men who
h>ve applied TO us for work when they
were needed. During the past year we
nave been doing large amount OF work
in the West, as everyone knows. and at
times have not been able to get as many
white laborers as we wanted In fact
there has been dearth of white labor
IN all parts OF this country and Western
lines have not alone been made to feel
the shortage. There has, however been
a greater amount of work to be done by
railroads in the West than in the Fast,
and therefore there has been a greater
shortage of labor here There has never
white man applied TO US for work, when
we were in need of men, but has been
given a job. When II was impossible
for us 10 get white men who were willing
to go to work we were forced to turn
to the idle Japanese and for this reason
a number of them have been employed on
our line.
Why Aliens Are Employed.
"Laboring men all over the country
know better than the papers that are now
making political capital OF the alien ques-
ton, that IL has been impossible to get
laborers In any numbers for the past
year, and they also know that on almost
all the lines where II has been possible
TO get white men to go to work, 1t has
been done.
THE whole matter can he summed up
In the prosperous conditions that pre-
vail In this country today and for the
past three years. during all of which
time those who have been employing
large numbers of lahorers know there has
been growing shortage each year and
an increased amount of work TO be done
each year The white labor OF the coun-
try Is employed as IL never has been be-
fore and as a consequence there is less Of
an idle crowd 10 draw from than in the
past. 1t is not the disposition of the
Northern Pacific railroad when II has
any labor to distribute to give 1t to
aliens in preference TO the American
white iaborer, but, as everyone will APP
preciate, We have a large amount Of
work that must be done and when we
cannot get white laborers even by trans
porting them free of cost TO the place
where they are To work then IL must be
apparent that IL Is necessary for us to
NIL the deficiency In the best way we can
The controversy now in progress is NOT
based on facts. all who are familiar
with the. situation must we'll know