The San Francisco call., 1901-12-05
PROTECTION FOR LABOR.

I'M of the Presidents message is the emphasis
with which 1t insists upon the rights of
American labor and the duty of Congress- to provide
for its adequate projection against any unfair com
etition that tends odrag it down to lower levels of
living. To that doctrine the message returns again
and again. and it is thus made evident that it holds
foremost place in the Presidents mind and is never
for moment overlooked in the consideration of any
issue of statecraft.
In referring the death of Mckinley the President
notes particularly that he was zone of the strongest
champions the wage-worker has ever had and goes
on to say: He had just been reelected to the
Presidency because the majority of our citizens the
majority OF our farmers and wage-wor1ers believed
he had faithfully upheld their interests for four
years. In urging the creation of Department of
Commerce he states that the proposed is part
OF comprehensive scheme for securing Our bus-
ness interests on safe basis and making firm our
position in the international industrial world,
while scrupuousy safeguarding the rights of the
wage-workers and capitalists, of investors and pr-
vate citizens so asto secure equity between man and
man in this republic ---
Passing to direct consideration of the welfare Of
workingmen he says: "Not only must our labor be
protected by the tariff but it should also be protected
SO far possible from the presence in this country
OF any aborers Brought over by contract or of those
VINO coming Irtiy represent Ol living
depressed that they can undersel our men in the
labor market and drag them to lower level. re-
gard it as NECESSARY, with this end in view. to re
enact Immediately the law excluding Chinese labor
ers and to strengthen it wherever necessary in order
| to make its enforcement entirely effective
Passing on to- the labor problem generally the
President cordially commends; the organization OF
labor, and says Very great; good has been accom-
plished fby associations or unions, of wageearners
when managed with fcrethought and when they COM
bine insistence upon their own rights with law
abiding, respect for the rights of Others" He then
adds: When all is said and done the rule of broth
erhood remains the indispensable prerequisite to
success in the kind Of national life for which we
/ strive" The study of immigration laws leads
him to say that we should exclude all persons "who
are belosH certain standard of economic fitness to
enter our industrial field as competitors with Ameri-
can labor. There should be proper proof OF ca
pacty to earn American living and enough money
to insure decent start under American conditions.
This would stop the influx of cheap labor, which
gives rise to so much bitterness in American indus
trial life"
Finally, in discussing the tariff and reciprocity
the President says: Our first duty to see that the
protection granted by the tariff in every case where
it is needed is maintained, and that reciprocity be
sought for far it be safely done without in
jury to our home industries Just how far this is
must be determined according to the individual
case, remembering always that every application o
our tariff policy to meet shifting national needs
must be conditioned upon the cardinal fact that
the duties be reduced below the point that
will the difference between the labor here
and abroad. The we-being of the wage worker
is the prime consideration of Our entire policy o.
economic legislation
These statements expressions of the trues
Repubcanism, and it is gratifying to find them SC
clearly and emphaticaly asserted by the President
1t is indeed a cardinal doctrine of all Republican
platforms that the well-being of the wage-workel
is the prime consideration of economic legislation
and is for that reason that, despite the rawlings
demagogues, the mass of the American people re
main true to the party and support its candidates.