The age-herald., 1902-03-01
Washington Day byDay

Altnough there IS al present idtehe oppo sition in Congress and throughout the country to the proposed new Chinese-ex- clusion legislation, 1t appears that or ganized labor will make Its influence suf- fciently felt to insure the enactment of some measure of restriction, at least.
 It is hardly probable, however, that the Geary law.l which expires next May. will be re-enacted in precise form, or that any act that would exclude any class or Chi nese except laborers can be passed.
 The issue, which should have remained one of morals but which in point of fact originated in the politics of the California sandlotters, Is now said to be more than ever political issue on the Pacific slope and unfortunately for organized labor one of it's aspects before Congress is political
 In opposing the unrestricted immigra- tion of the Chinese labor In this country is rightfully obeying the law of self preservation. which some men call "the first law of heaven" Those who disre- gard this latter and more selfish view, perceive in this question of the Chinese that real law of public morality which Is apart from and above all possible consid- eration of mere self-interest; and this is directly applicable to and against the unrestricted immigration alike of the Chinese and all other races.
 The law of public morals would re- strict immigration from all iands-would cause this country to cease to be the dumping-ground of the worlds racial filth, and reserve 1t for what 1t was meant to be. namely, the refuge and home Of all deserving people of foreign races who should have the desire to come hither ana assume the high duties of American cit- izenshp.
 For every Chinaman who breaks the peace in this country there are thou- sand violators of our law who have come from the criminal classes of Europe. The number of European anarchists In thls country who daily proclaim their damned | doctrine of destruction exceeds the entire Chinese population of the United states. Let us resolutely protect labor and so- ciety in general from the offscourlngs or the Chinese Empire; but 1t is worse than folly to stop at that Let us also reso- l lutely protect all our people from the on- scourings of Europe.
 
 Dor does not see it's way clear to use it's vast influence in favor of legislation that would safeguard labor and all the people | by proper restriction of European immi- | grafton. to the end that criminal and un- | deserving foreigners should be denied ad- mission to this country. Labor is right regarding the restriction of Chinese im- migration; but 1t should go further and agitate for the restriction of immigration from Europe.
 Tn the California memorial to Congress in favor of the re-enactment of the Chi nese exclusion law, 1t is recited that the effects of exclusion have been most ad- vsntageous to that State. ''The 75OOo Chinese residents in California in 1SS0," the memorial continues have been re- duced according to the last census, to 45, eco; and whereas the white settlement of California by Caucasians had been | arrested prior to the adoption of these laws a healthy growth of the State in population has marked the progress of recent years. Every material interest of the State has advanced and prosperity has been our portion. Were the restric- tion laws relaxed we are convinced that our working population would be dis placed, and the noble structure of our State, the creation of American ideas ard industry, would be imperled if not destroyed"
 The memorialists say that the Chinese have invaded the cigar shoe broom, chemical, clothing, fruit-canning. match making and woolen- n-manufacturing in- dustries, and have displaced more than 4O0O white men In these several employ ments in the city of San Francisco"
 These material statements are fiatly contradicted by Mir. Patrick J. Healy of San Francisco, who asserts:
 "In 1s9O-91, there were 10,175 skilled workers employed In the industries nam ed in the memorial; S900 of them were Chinese. The value of the output was | S1S541, COG. At the end of the fiscal year 190O-01, the number of toilers employed in said industries was 67o5. Of these, 1l20 were Chinese, and the output was valued at $f1, ,595, 900. Thus, instead of regaining the 1000 white toilers that are alleged to have been displaced, we have lost 3470 skilled workers in the last ten years. 21S0 of which were Chinese. and we have fal- len behind in the value of the output of these industries more than s6,000,0 0O0.
 Here we have in brief both sides of this question-even to the Chinese exclusion question there are two sides. /
 Congressman Bankhead has returned to Washington after an absence of six days, he having been called to Alabama by the illness of his daughter-in-law Mrs Will liam B. Bankhead of Huntsville, who died three days after his arrival at her home. The beautiful young wife and mother, who was not quite 2l, left two infant daughters. the younger being but three weeks old and the elder one year. The younger infant was taken home by Mrs. Thomas M. Owen of Montgomery, sister of MT. w. B. Bankhead and the other has found a home with Mir. John H. Bankhead, Jr., and Mrs Bankhead of Jasper, brother and sister of the afflicted young father, who is spending a short time with them.
 Colonel Bankhead spent a day at Sans Souci, Greenville, s. C., the home of his elder daughter. Mrs w. H. Perry, who conducts in the fine old mansion a se- lect school for girls which is very prosper ous. The recent fire there, exaggerated