The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-20
LABOR AND LAW
 TO BAR CHINESE
PETITIONS AGAINST PLS. TO
 LET GEARY LAW DIE.
Gompers Opposes Influx of coolies. Chairman Hit of Foreign Affairs Committee and Senators Me-
 Laurin and Depsw Favor
 Restriction.

 steamship interests to repeal the law ex- cluding Chinese will be opposed by the leading men in the Senate and House.
 There is every reason to say, however. House a mandate that there must be leg islatien, and at such an early date as will kill the plot to let the law be talked to death.
 tions of nearly all the labor organiza- tions in the country. and the force of these he has practically admitted as mapped out his policy on the bill. La- sor people and in fact the better ..,slt. eie- great faith in the Presidents record on the immigration question, especially that of the Chinese. and believe they have their best friend in the White House There is every prospect, therefore, that the President will not only recommend the re-enactment of the law in his mes sage, but will use his influence personal lys with members of Congress to secure the re-enactment
 Labor Men Watching.
 Samuel Gompers. President American Federation of Labor-Every American workman and every members of organ ized labor in the United States will op- pose any effort to permit an influx of Chinese cheap labor into this country of the Geary exclusion act.
 The New York Journal is to be com mended for the great fight it is making against the admission of the Chinese and men The figures it quotes show con- clusively in, recent. editorial that the law has been good thing and that the number of Chinese has steadily dimin- fshed instead of enormously increasing, as would have been the case had not this restrictive legislation been enacted by Congress.
 Labor everywhere in this country will trt vvtth f4.l IA the attitude of members of Congress on this subject. It would be suicidal for any member of Congress to vote so manifest ly against the interests of that great sweat of their brow and who form the bone and sinew of this country
 Gave President Data.
 I discussed this very question with President Roosevelt the other day, and submitted to him a brief on the Chinese data compiled in that brief Is exhaustive. The President will. know. give the sub gect the most careful consideration, and I can say that I believe he will be fa- voTaoie to a continuation of the present
 Representative R. R. Hit of Illinois. Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the FTouse-There has never been a time when I have not favored the exclusion of coolie labor. Indeed, II am Of the opinion that it would be well to shut our doors. on the cheap Japanese labor, which is swarning into this coun- trs. tsys But n there are two ways of doing
 l would prefer the former, for my part. nave no doubt that there will be many bflls prepared at the coming session. io3kklng srk to the exclusion of the Chinese The Chinese labor question has always been theme for prolific discussion, es- atives.
 However. do not foresee any serious opposition to the passage of g coohe ex- clusion bill. The sentiment of Congress, as expressed some time ago, is clearly lin favor of this. Personally, I should like to see the question taken up In the right way without violating any of our treaty ob- ligations. and at the same time accomp- fishing the results which the present law have brought out.
 CaroIina-I think that at this Congress the Chinese Exclusion act should be con sidered in its relation to the general subject of foreign immigration, and that 1t should be made the basis of further legislation along the lines of restricting immigration. In short, our immigrat ton laws should be more sweeping and far- reaching than they are now.
 Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew-I shall certainly vote for a re~enactment of the Chinese Exclusion act And I surely hope there will be no opposition. The act was originally passed because of the belief that the Chinese were driving American workmen out of employment and reducing greatly the wages of those compelled to earn their living by the sweat of their brow.
 Never Become Citizens.
 Again, it was found then. and it will be found now. that the Chinese rarely become citizens of the United States. They take our money and 40 home to spend it. I do not believe that Secretary Gage Is opposed to the re-enactment of the law If he is my information is cer- renewal of the law by a good safe ma. Jority of both houses of Congress. Senator Thomas C. Platt-T have not yet seriously considered what attitude shall take, upon the proposed re-enact. ment of the Chinese Exclusion act My position will be made clearly apparent when the subject comes. before Con- gress.
 Congressman Harry A. Hanbury Of Brooklyn--I am in favor of a bill to re. strict immigration, and hope to have 9 chance to vote on such a measure at the next session.
 Just what kind of law would best meet the needs of the country I am at present not prepared to say and it will require the greatest care and fore thought, hut I believe one of the great est evils of our national life and one of the dangers to be guarded against lies In the present lax laws.
 Congressman Henry Bristow-I believe the time has come for this country to do something to keep out undesirable people from other countries. I understand that reStrictive policy will be voted upon at the coming session of Congress and that some law to meet the danger will be passed.
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