Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-15
MENACE TO TREATY RIGHTS
Chinese Exclusion Bill Denounced in Senate
as to International Obligations,
BAD on THE COVETED OPEN DOOR POLICY
Foraker and McLnurin Lead in Attack
on the Bill, the Latter In Inter-
est Of Southern Cotton
Trade.

WASHINGTON. April 14.-The Chinese
exclusion bill occupied the attention Of the
senate throughout today, Senator'S Foraker
and McLaurin OF South Carolina making
extended speeches in opposition. Mr.. For
aker commended that the pending measure
was violative OF our treaty with China and
was calculated to restrict our commercial
expansion in the east. While strongly sup
porting the policy Of the government to ex-
clude Chinese laborers. the Ohio senator
maintained that this could be best accomp-
lished by an extension Of the present law,
holding that the drastic provisions Of the
pending bill would cut off our cotton trade
with China and thus wreck the cotton in
dustry OF the south.
Mr.. Teller briefly responded TO Mr.. For
aker. urging that the right to aprogate
treaties was fully recognized.
Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts, gave notice
of an amendment striking out the much
discussed clause prohibiting the employ
ment OF Chinese sailors on American ships.
Would Ruin Cotton Export.
Mr.. McLaurin said 1t was inconceivable
that any honorable nation, least of all the
United States, should surrender its integ-
rity by deliberately adopting policies and
e~nacting laws In violation Of its own sworn
compact and treaty with any other power,
and that, too, during a period Of profound
peace, without any provoking cause from
the other nation. The pending senate bill,
he declared, was calculated by its %restric-
tive action and mimicable spirit, to kill our
trade with China. This was a consideration
of vital Importance to South Carolina, with
its vast cotton productions and the growing
shipments Of cotton goods to China.
| Mr. Mol min enid tho offant of n shut
down in the China trade and the consequent
collapse of southern cotton manufacturing
would be most severe on the south. 1t
would glut the home market and close
the mills. The mill owners and the opera
tives would suffer. In South Carolina some
60, 1000 operatives would be injured, while
the same result would occur In North Caro-
lima, Georgia, Alabama. and all the states
where cotton is grown or cotton goods manu-
featured.
Effect on Treaties.
Mr.. Foraker took up the various treaties,
showing the development of that exclusion
| policy and the various rights given and
restrictions imposed. Replying to a ques-
tion from Mr.. Platt OF Connecticut, Mr..
Foraker said that LII Hung Chang would
have been excluded from this country under
the provisions Of the pending bill, and
China could exclude our missionaries, engi-
neers and students.
Mr.. Foraker commended that the treaty
Of 1894 was the elimination Of the statutory
provisions on exclusion, and the only pro-
hibition under that treaty was against la
borers, all other classes being permitted
to come to reside here. No one had pointed
out any bad effect from the admission OF
the educated Chinaman. He therefore OPP
posed the pending treaty as violating the
constitution.
Mr.. QuRrles, asked IL the new Chinese
policy OF sending youths to America schools
would not make each one OF these youths
an advance agent OF American civilization
BLOW at n Good Cause.
Mr.. Foraker responded by reading recent
edicts directing that young men from every
province be sent abroad to study. And
yet, declared Mr.. Foraker, at this moment
senators were asked to vote to exclude
Chinese students from our shores. In his
Judgment a more unwise provision and one
more violative of our treaty obligations had
not been proposed since he entered the
senate.
Mr.. Foraker denied that the proposed
measure was In the interest Of the wage
earners of the United States.
Mr.. Lodge opposed amendments to what
is known as the anna clause. One OF
the amendments struck out the entire clause
prohibiting Chinese sailors on American
ships, and the other increased to $40, 900
the bond to be given by foreign ships moi
to permit the landing of Chinese sailors
The amendments want ovar