The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-03
THE CHINESE EhIGRANIS.
There Will Be a Great Fight Over
the Exclusion Bill in the Next
Congress.

gress in negaecting matters Of special
importance to the country While
they played politics, has resulted in
the United States being exposed to
the danger Of permitting the Chinese
exclusion law to lapse. The adm1n-
s'iistratiion has walked up, somewhat
late IN the day, to the fact that. the
1awwil expire BY limitation on May
IS next and has decided to recommend
TO Congress at its next session 70
adopt legislation substantially extend
ing it ftorten years longer.
draft Of q proposed bill has been
made by Commissioner Powderiy,
who viii urge that..the present Law be
continued IN force with slight changes
.exempting certain classes now pfohlD-
tied from entering the country. While
some Law similar.to that now IN effect
win probably be passed next session,
1T is nregd that there is not the
same opposition, especially from the
Pacific Coast States and the lnterior
West, to the admission OF Chinese
which was so potent a factor IN secur-
ing adoption Of the Geary act nine
years sago, and there is apparently
less activity on the part Of labor
organizations, which demanded the
Geary act.
This lack Of actiyii ty, however, arises
1T IS said, not from Indifference on the
subject but from the fact that 1t IS
taken for granted that The policy OF
the United States IN this respect IS
already settled and that nothing IS
needed to cause it to be adhered TO;
Certainly the opposition OF united
labor TO the Importation OF Chinese
does not seem to have decreased to an
extent which will allow the almond
eyed Celestials to enter into competl-
tion with American labor, even OF
unskiI1ed character.
Nevertheless It is idle to ignore the
TACT that signs multiply that China
men not only throughout this counY,
try, but to some extentsln China, are
forming organizations fol: the purpose
s,off peti titioning this county, through
their Minister, for admission with
out restrictions to the United States
and that powerful influences may be
exerted to secure favorable action by
this Government. These influences are
believed to have: their chief support
ers among those who forced negro suf-
frage on the countryza generation ago
people who believe that all me are
brothers and that a Chinaman has as
good right IN this country as any
one. They are, it is said, good men
but sadly impractica ones
It viii not be- possible, of course,
for the Chinese government to appeal
directly TO Conrgess, bit it IS expect
ed that when the matter IS taken up
some Important communications will
be laid before the State Department,
the friendliness Of which towards the
Chinese Government is well known.
viii be asserted on behalf OF the
Chinese that they have adapted
themselvesin quiet and peaceful fash
ION to the laws and customs OF this
country, and that as cooks, servants,
and laborers generally they have
earned the good will Of those who
have employed them The delay in
1eenacting the Law has given and en-
ahled these appeals to- gam IN force
and they may succeed IN their object.
The announcements expected shortly
ofathe reappointment Of Minister-Wu
for another term at Washington.
sMr. Wn is deeply interested, it is
sunderstood, in the movement to se-
cure admission Of all Cinnamon. He
IS diplomat enough, however, not to
announce prematurely his probable
course, and the fact Of his not hav-
ing spoken privately officially to the
Treasury officials may have given some
reason for Secretary Gage to believe
that he is. not concerned to have the
restrictions removed