Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-09
Labor Organizations Want Exclusion
Law Re-Enacted
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
Amendment Suggested to Prevent
Smuggling Them in.
SECY MORRISON'S VIEWS

dCl, WulCL DcCOHlcS uull Oh may u
| next. Among the various organizations
participating with activity in this cam
paign is the American Federation of La
Dor, which has emphatically declared itself
in favor Of the re-enactment Of the law,
and which purposes doing everything with
in it's power to induce Congress to pass the
bill, or similar one Of equal, and, II pos
sible, more efficacy.
Unions of the American Federation Of
Labor in various parts of the country have
been holding meetings lately to consider
the subject, and there is a unanimity Of
opinion among the workingmen belonging
to the order to secure the re-enactment Of
the law. 1t is pointed out that, although
the law is now in full effect, and is being
enforced with all the stringency possible
by officers of the Treasury Department,
the influx Of Chinese is steady, and that
efforts to prevent smuggling of the Mongo-
lians into the United States via the domin-
ion of Canada have been to certain ex-
tent unavailing. These Cinnamon, together
with those located in the United States
prior to the enactment of the law, are
taking the places of many good American
citizens engaged in various walks of labor
ing life, especially In the far west. 1t is pur-
posed by the laborlng men to urge the en-
actment of an amendment to the present
law in case it Is decided by Congress to re-
enact that statute in its present shape,
seeking TO prevent smuggling, ana WITH tnlS
loophole effectively blocked it's believed
that the incursions Of all such aliens will
be completely stopped.
Secretary MOrrisOn's Views.
In speaking OF the work now being done
and that contemplated by the American
Federation Of Labor in the direction of
effectng the re-enactment Of the law, Sec
retary Frank Morrison Of the federation
said to Star reporter this afternoon:
1.-The American Federation of Labor ex-
pressed itself on this subject at Louisville
last year. when the convention being held
by that body very heartily indorsed the
following sentiment, expressed by Pres1-
dent Gompers:
Information is conveyed that the Chi
nese exclusion act will terminate during the
year 1902; and, in view of the fact that the
necessity for the enactment Of that law has
increased hundred fold in our day, its
re-enactment is strongly urged, and the
period Of its existence made unlimited. 1t
is true that a treaty exists between the
governments Of the United States and Chi
ma. running until December 8, 1904: but the
information Is reliably given that treaty,
without the machinery of law to make 1t
operative, is rendered a dead letter.
The law providing for the carrying out
Of the provisions of the treaty terminates
May 8, 1902; and any Indifference or un-
friendliness on the part of any executive
officer of our government could allow the
Chinese to come In after that date, by rea-
son of the fact that without further legis-
lation there would be no provision for pen
atty OF deportation of the Chinese for vio-
lation of the treaty's stipulations.
81, therefore, recommend that II you
should deem it wise to authorize the execu-
tive council to hold the conference referred
to In this report, with the United States
immigration officers. that they be author
lied, too, to take this matter under advise
ment, and urge such legislation as may be
necessary. Surely. our recent experience
with the Chinese is no inducement for the
relaxation Of the laws for their rigid exclu-
sion from our country.
1.-The executive council held a meeting
within short time after the adoption Of
this suggestion and appointed commit
tee, consisting of President GomperS, Vice
President O'Connell and myself, to confer
with the officials Ct the immigration bu-
reau. We had a talk with these officials
and received every encouragement from
them. We expressed our ideas on the SUBJ
ject and forcibly urged the department to
exert its utmost endeavor to have the bill
passed again.
Harm to the Laboring Man.
There is no doubt that the failure Of
Congress to re-enact the law would work
wholesale harm to the American laboring
man. Take the situation out in the state Of
Washington, for instance. In that state
there are hundreds Of Cinnamon employed
in the mines and in the fishing interests.
They are paid miserable wages by their
employers, who are only too glad to secure
their services at such starvation rates as
the Cinnamon ask, and the result Is that
many a good American is denied the op-
portunity to make comfortable living for
himself. The Chinaman under the law is
not naturalized, and unlike many of the
other foreigners who come here to work he
has no sympathy for American Institutions
and nothing in common with the American
people. In case the law is not re-enacted
this condition in the state Of Washington
will prevail all over the country. Thou
sands of Cinnamon are only waiting for the
notification Of the law in order to come to
this glorious haven Of labor and freedom.
and If the barriers are lowered they will
come here in large numbers and as fast as
the trans-Pacific steamers can carry them.
There Is no doubt that hundreds of Chi
namen are smuggled into our country over
the Canadian border every year. The Of
f1cials Of the country are enforcing the
statute to the best of their ability, but 1t
seems that as the law Is now framed there
Is no effective provision aimed at entry
from this source We want the addition Of
q provision directed at this practice and
hope to arrive at a solution Of this feature
of the question before May next"
The committee appointed at Louisville to
confer with the immigration officials on the
exclusion act visited Ellis Island In New
York some weeks ago, and while there
made an investigation Of the workings Of
the alien contract labor law.
1--WE found" said Mr.. Morrison, referring
to this subject, that it is virtually impos-
sible for the immigration officials to ex-
clude one-tenth of the laborers who come
to this country under contract to work.
There is no way to get at such immigrants
Hundreds who come in have been prompted
before their arrival here and when Gues-
toned by the inspectors know exactly what
to say to evade the law. There is no proof
obtainable that these men are under con-
tract. so that the officials are obliged TO
let them in.
"It has been proposed to make an cx-
ample Of some of the immigrants by select
ing them at random, as to keep others
intending to come in with illegal intent TN
certain as to their fate; but it is argued
that this system Of enforcing the law might
work hardship upon innocent people. So
far we can see no solution of this Prob
lem"
ReHttiuw of the (S{hhOn