The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-26

| the Democratic Campaign BooI.
The question of Chinese labor is comm!
to the front again. There is an avariciou
demand on the part of capitalists in gen
| eral for cheaper labor. and the Chimes,
Exclusion act is about to expire Assistan
Secretary Taylor of the Treasury, has aa
nounced that the Chinese Is a good work
man. makes a good citizen, and is entitle,
10 ali the privileges in the United State.
to which any other woriiingmaa is 1t ha
been suggested that this opinion of
subordinate officer Of the present Admin
istration was inspired for the purpose o
feeling the public pulse
John T. Cuppy. formerly of Illinois, nov
| q resident OF Washington, as a representa-
tive of the knights of Labor organization
old time member and organizer for sixteer
| years has called attention to the fact thai
some twenty years ago the importation OF
Chinese labor to this country agiaated tht
American mind and prompted action upon
the part of the Knights Of Labor. at The
| general assembly of that organization in
| Pittsburg, Pa, on Tuesday, September .
1880.
| Upon this occasion Francis 9ell, dele
| gate from California. introduced a resoIu-
| tion directing that a committee of fi-s be
| appointed TO draft an appeal to the people
! of the United States. and more especially
| the laboring organizations, to withhold
their support from any candidate for Con-
gress or the Senate who would not pIedge
himself to the enactment of legislation
| necessary to the exclusion of this unde-
| sirablo class of people.
Mr.. Cuppy. to a Times reporter said:
In an issue OF the Journal OF the
| Knights OF Labor for September, 1880, the
| announcement was made that this commit
tee had been appointed, and the appeal to
| the laboring people OF America was therein
| published.
The outgrowth of this agitation and
| petitioning to Congress by millions OF
men, through the efforts of organized la
! Dor. was apparent. when, on My 8. 1882.
| Congress enacted a law excluding Chinese
! immigrants for period of ten years. and
! On May ). 1892, Congress passed an act
| further excluding Chinese persons in the
| United States for ten years. These acts
provided severe penalties for their enforce
| ment. The charge that this Administra-
ton has failed to execute this Law is well
founded.
The Law Quoted.
Il have copy of the laws made mention
Of and the act last referred to directs that
any Chinese person found unlawfully in the
United States shall be removed from the
United States to the country from whence
he came, and at the expense of the United
States, said act TO continue in force for
ten years from its passage, which will be
on May D 1902. This has been lost sight
OF, and the attention of the people is nov
earnestly called TO the fact that up IN the
expiration CT this Law the foor viii be
opened TO food of Cinnamon so feared in
the past Ii raises an important question
IN this momentous campaign which Nc
Kinley has straddlei and Bryan has met.
1t is question OF vital Importance upon
which members of Congress elected this
fall viii have TO legislate
Possibly this important issae mas ben
overlooked. for the reason that the treaty
with China of December s. 1894. contains
tho following provision:
II six months before the expiration OF
sald period OF ten years neither Govern.
ment shall have formally given notice of
its final termination to the ether. it shall
remain in full force for another like period
Of ten years
Although the treaty stands good until
December S, 1904. it would be no protec
legislation similar to that now on the
statute book. and which. as | have said.
expires by limitation on May 3, 1902 This
legislation must be had at the hands OF
the Congress which is TO be elected in No
vember.
This question, when correctly diagnosed.
suggests that the only remedy for the ex-
clusion Of Chinese labor is that the voter
look at his ballot before casting it in No
vember next
The laboring class of this country lave
but one lamp by which their feet are
guided. and that is the lamp of experience.
There is no way of judging of the future,
but by the past. and judging by the past.
they will wish to know what there has
been in tho conduct of this Administration
in the past TO justify their silence on this
most vital question.
Has Mr. Mckinley fnt;mated what his
policy Will be? Let the laboring people
not, beseech of them, deceive themselves
longer Organized labor worked hard TO
avert flood OF Chinese cheap labor We
have spread this land knee deep with lii
erature on this subject and have petitione1
Congress by millions to forever settle this
question; yet we are today in the midst
of most momentous campaign, confronted
with the same old question.
IF the people Of America shall hone ever
TO preserve their liberties and protect their
homes and not abandon the noble struggle
In which We so long engaged. we must ACT
not next week, or next year, but now. Can
our liberties be secure when these urse.
tied conditions confront us? The laSoring
class of this country holds the signet kew
Let them not use their power at the ballot
box like unto babes with knives in theI,
hands"
No Reference 20 Exclusion Act.
The Republican platform contains no
reference to the Chinese exclusion law
The platform adopted by the Democratic
party at Kansas City contains this sec
ton:
We favor the continuance end strict
enforcement of the Chinese exclusion law
and its application to the same cIasges
of all Asiatic races"
The Democratic platform contains this
reference to labor:
In the interest of American labor and
the uplifting of the workingraen as the
cornerstone of the prosperity of cur conn
Try, we recommend that Congress create
Department of Labor, in charge OF n
Secretary, with seat In the Cabinet. be-
lieying that the elevation of the American
laborer Will bring with 1t increased pro-
duction and increased prosperity to our
country at home, and to our commerce
abroad"
This is what the Republican Platform
contains on the subject of American labor:
I'VE renew our faith in the policy of
protection to American labor IN that
policy our industries have been estab-
lished, diversified. and maintained. BY
protecting the home market the eompe-
tition has been stimulated and production
cheapened. Opportunity to the might've
n u