The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
He SPEAKS ON EXCLUSION
Southerners sympathize With People
of Pacific Coast.
CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEIR PREJUDICE
But Are Broad Minded Enough TO Let Them
Settle Such Matters Without Interf.r-
ence, Despite The 0uicry About
the Negro Question,
the Negro Question.
Especial to News and Ohserver)


Washington, D. c., April 7.--Senator
Simmons today made fifteen minute
speech on the Chinese Exclusion Bill. He
spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, 1 60 not rise for the
purpose of making a speech upon the
pending bill, but to make statement in
explanation of the vote which l shall
cast. l shalt vote for this bill, put
shall vote for it relustantly. l shall vote /
for it reluctantly, because l am not at
all satisfied that the best interests of the
country, considered as a whole, requires
its passage. / shall vote for it reluctant
ly, ALSO because the cotton mauufactur-
ers of my State are appealing to Con-
gress in protest against it's enactment.
Cotton manufacturing has grown to great
proportions in my State. The men who
are engaged in thi swork are among it's
best citizenship, and they are doing a
great work in upbuilding that State, end
sible, ,eteo mbfWyepatoinemfwy
want by my votes here as far as l can
consistently and conscientiously, to en-
courage. and promote this great industry.
Now the cotton manufacturers of my
State and the South have in recent years
built up a valuable trade, which l be-
lieVe is increasing with China, in the
coar6er grades of this product, and they
believe, or at least fear, that if this bill
is passed it will lead to retaliatory ac-
ton on the part of China, which will
check if it does not destroy this trade
l DO not believe the passage of the
Mrs. Lucy Liggon, who died in Little Roe
bill will lead reluctantory action which
these manufacturers approve, although I
must confess it may possibly have this
effect, On advice of this / shall vote
for this measure reluctantly as / said be-
fore, because | dislike to cast vote
which may expose this trade to even pos
sihle Gangcr.
But there is another appeal which has
come to us, which for one, find myself
unable to resist. 1t is the appeal of the
people of the Pacific Coast 1t is the
people of that section of our country
who have to deal with these Chinese
questions. Fo ryears they have been face
to face with it, and they understand it
in all of its phases. These people come
TO us and they say that Chinese immi-
grafton and Chinese settlement upon the
Pacific Coast involves not only politi-
cal, but a social question, and that the
presence in any great numbers of China
men there menace not only the peace and
order and tranquility of society, but
their very civilization.
81 cannot understand and the people
of the South cannot understand the pref
udice of the people of the Pacific Coast
towards the Chinamen, both as a man
and as laboror. We do not share in it.
There is no prejudice of that sort in my
| section, on the contrary there are many
in my State who would be glad to see tho
Chinese laborer come among them, and
supplement at least the very Inefficient
farm labor that we have. While we do
not understand the prejudice of the peo-
PIE of the Pacific Coast towards the Chi
nese we know the fact that it exists. and
we believe there is sound reason for il.
and because we do so believe. and be-
cause the people of the Pacific Coast are
chiefly concerned in this matter. we are
ready to join with them in any deterni-
nation Of this question which their long
experience in dealing with it may sug-
gest as being in the interests OF the
people of that section, and as just and
right
Mr.. President, we have a problem in
| the South. also a great social and politi-
cal problem, with which we are strug-
Cling, and with which we have been
STRUGGLING for the past thirty years The
people of the balance of the country can
not understand the feelings and the in
eXorable purpose of the South with ref
orence to the negro question. They think
that our attitude towards the negro is
inspired by prejudice and hostility. That
is a mistake. We have no prejudice. and
We have no hostility towards the negro
Our attitude towards him is actuated
solely by the desire to preserve our civil
izaticn ard to promote tho welfare Of
both races. IF we are permitted in the
South to deal with and to settle the
negro question in our own way, without
unnecessary interference from the bal
ance of the country, we will settle it not
only in the interest Of the white man,
but we will settle il in the interest OF
the negro, and we will settle it in the
interest of the social, the intellectual
and the material progress. not only of
the South but of the whole country. If
the North and the West and the East
are determined to saddle and fix upon
us obnoxious social conditions we will not