The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-26
PACIFIC COAST EMPLOYERS OF
LABOR WILL OPPOSE CHI
NESE EXCLUSION
A COMPROMISE IS PROPOSED
To Let the Orientals Come in with
out Restriction for Limftea
Time-PIea Made That
Labor Is Scarce.
PRo-cHINEsE ARE ORGANIZED
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
washington. ID. C.

Washington, ID. C.
WASHINGTON, Nov 25-The labor
champions who are urging the prompt re.
enactment of the Chinese exclusion law
at the next session of congress are awak-
ening to the fact that there is very
strong opposition to our anti-Chinese
policy of the last twenty years which viii
have to be reckoned with before a con-
tinuing act can be passed.
At one time the lines of difference were
drawn longitudinally through the coun-
try like the course Of the Mississippi
river, the people on the eastern side being
either opposed to exclusion or Indifferent,
and those on the western side strongly
favoring it. Now however, all observers
agree as to the surprising growth or pro-
Chinese sentiment on the Pacific coast,
which used to be an unqualified anti-Cht-
nese stronghold. The larger body OF tre
laboring class in that region are still
insistent upon exclusion. Some of the
more intelligent workingmen there, on
the other hand, have come to reason that
the fields of Chinese and white labor
respectively are pretty well separated,
and that the Importation of more Chinese
would mean rather an increase of com
petition within that race than between
Chinese and whites.
CnlneSe UOOu huEdA
Employers in the great fruit valleys of
Oregon and California employ Chinese
labor almost to the exclusion of white
labor, not merely because it is cheaper,
but because a majority of white labor
ers object to the work of the fruit fields
on it's own account too much to do IL at
any wages.
Since the original exclusion law was
passed and the policy which it reflected
became frraly saddled on the government.
the Pacific coast has undergone res
markable development on agricultural
and horticultural lines This has opened
the way for the employment of great
deal more labor than can be got of any
color or of any price. Therefore, il the
business interests of the west coast, in
Guiding not only employers of labor, put
the commercial element, make tnelr
strength fully felt here next winter, it is
possible that they may be able to effect
a compromise with the labor agitators On
a very reasonable basis. The line SUE
gested for this is a trial period during
which the exclusion law could be allowed
to lapse.
other Matters Pressing.
The present law expires in May That
does not allow a great deal of time Tor
the consideration of the legislation pro-
posed for the Philippine islands, the
interoceanic canal, the reduction of the
surplus. and other objects or pressing inn
portance if any considerable fight is &c
be made on the anti-Chinese ques stion; 50
it is probable that the opponents of ex-
clusion will propose to the other side that
nothing be done in the coming session.
with the understanding that the Chiaes9
question shall be the first one to which
congress addresses itself on rec conVen1ra
in December, and that it shall Then be
considered till disposed Of.
That would allow some seven or eight
months within which the Chinese could
come freely to this country. AS 1t would
be fully advertised that their right tC
corue might be cnce more abridged al
the end of the period, there would prob
ably be as large an influx then as pos
sible. If it be true, as stated by the
Chinese minister and others, that the
number of Chinese who could and woul
come here is not large enough to affec
cur labor market to any extent, W:
should get the proof of it during the
months the bars were down.
We Need Chinese Markets.
1t is not only the employers of labor
and the steamship and other carrying
companies, that are interested in the re
mission, even temporarily. of or anti
Chinese policy, but manufacturers ant
merchants all over the United States
Since our acquisition of the Philippine.
their attention has been especially drawn
to the opening of the Oriental marke
for their wares, and the Orient practieal
ly means China. At present the larger
native merchants of China do not wisi
to come here if they are to be subjected
to indignities or made to go through {
great deal of humiliating fol-de-rol il
the process of proving their right to en-
ter the country; and they are prohibited
from sending representatives because th
law makes no provision for the admis
sion of any but the merchants them
selves. Our trade with them must de
velop very slowly if left subject to tn,
handicap of the necessity of carrying ou
goods to them on the chance of their be
ing willing to purchase; whereas if ever!
facility were offered for the free admis
sion Of themselves and their representa-
tives to come here and see what we hav,
to SELL it is believed that a very largt
commerce would grow up between tn,
two countries, of which ours would real
by far the greater advantage.
The opposition to the exclusion polio.
has now organization and cohesive force
This will give the contest dignity i
has never before possessed, the common
rule having been that the anti-Chines
agitators charged pell-mell upon the op
position, who, when a clash seemed in
evitable, meekly lay down and let them
selves be ridden over.