The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-23
Patrol the Frontier,

The representatives Of this state at
Washington should make an imperative
demand upon the federal authorities
that such measures be taken as will
guard the northern frontier against the
passage of immigrants who could not
secure free and open admission under
our laws. 1t is reported with every APP
pearance Of truth that the highways
which cross the international boundary
are being used by Chinese and Japanese
as lines OF entry to the state of Wash
ington. On all OF these. bodies of men
may be found moving southwark at
night. And 50 the laws Of this country
are set at naught and its safeguards
are overturned. Under the lax regula-
ton Of the Dominion. the Orientals who
have been coming over recently are
landed at Vancouver. whence they
tory. This is defiance Of the law that
ought to command instant action by
the government
1t Is the business of the federal au-
thorities to guard the frontier, Just as
much as 1t Is to patrol the coast with
revenue cutters in order that the GUS
toms laws may be observed. Some pre-
cautions are now taken and some Of
these undesirable immigrants are cap
tured and taken back; but the provision
made for guarding the line Is not suffi-
cient TO protect the community wholly.
The Orientals. with their swift and ST.
lent cunning. slip past unprotected
points and. melting into the body Of
their countrymen on this side, are safe
from detection or pursuit. The only re-
course we have is an appeal to the gen.
eral government for more adequate
patrol along the international line. This
should be made in strong terms, and II
will certainly be needed when the au-
thorities at Washington are made
aware of the situation.
We cannot afford to throw down
any of the restrictions that we have
placed about the immigration OF the
Chinese to the United States. Those
wise laws must not be evaded We
cannot afford to relax the severity or
suspend the application OF the laws re-
latlng to other immigrants who are ad-
mitted conditionally. Those laws are
all too moderate and insufficient. We |
ought to have had In force years ago |
such laws. applying equally to immigra- |
ton from all countries. as would have |
protected American labor against the |
pauper. the criminal and the worthless |
riTraf Of the world that have been |
dumped by tens Of thousands upon our
shores. Positively the most disgracerul |
neglect Of all the congresses that have |
assembled during many administrations
is their failure to regulate and restrict /
That omission must be /
and organized labor can 40
nothing better for itself or for the
country than to insist upon such ac-
ton. The time has come in our de-
velopment when Il Is far more import
ant to secure free play and fair neld
Tor people already here than TO entlce
others to come
Untll the laws have been so changed
As 10 sIft and classify immigration and /
turn back the tide that is burdened
with the hotsam Of the world. let us
concern ourselves with the most rigid
execution OF such laws as we already
nave. Their strict application to this
coast will. We believe. meet present
Conditions, But we cannot tolerate any
Wholesale evasions. II the forbidden
'omers who dare not present themselves