The Washington times., 1902-04-13

represented in the committee room in OPP
position to the bill. That fact showed, he
said. that the transportation of Chinese
was so important and SO large an item in
the business of these wealthy companies
that they thought it necessary to oppose
the pending legislation.
As to the bill being a violation OF
treaty provision. Mr.. Lodge asserted that
he was as firmly devoted TO the mainten-
ance OF the sancity of treaties as anyone
could be, and that he had as deep a sense
of treaty obligations as anyone could
have.
Il will not" he said, willingly violate
treaty obligation with any country on
the face OF the earth-certainly not with
China. But there are certain things which
IL is well to remember. The legislation
now on the statute books. which was put
there By an irresistible popular demand.
was undoubtedly a violation of the treaty
then existing. To cure that, the treaty
OF 1894 was agreed to. Every vote given
for the substitute offered by the Senator
from Connecticut Mr.. Platt) is a vote in
favor of the proposition that every law ex-
isting in 1894 vas a proper means OF
carrying into execution that treaty.
"As to this law injuring our trade with
China. every law placed on the statute
book for the same purpose has been met
legislation has been introduced in Con-
gress We have heen told that we would
break up our commercial relations with
the Chinese empire. And yet our COM
merce with that empire has increased
more than that OF any other nation.
Commerce Not Sentiment.
Commerce does not go on sentiment
\ Chinaman is not going to stop selling
his teas and silks because we keep out
some Canton coolies who have been trying
to get in. am as much in favor Of de-
veloping the trade of the Orient as any
man can be. 1t is one OF the dreams Of
spread over the Pacific. And it is idle to
say that our domestic regulations are
going to destroy our commerce in the
Orient.
My position is that the simple ex-
tension OF existing law as proposed in
the substitute, is putting of an unavoid-
able question. The true way Is for the
Senate to take this bill, to examine it,
and to amend it. | am not welded to any
part OF 1t. | only want intelligent, coher-
ent good legislation
At this point Mr.. Lodge permitted Mr..
Hanna (Rep. Ohio to read telegram
signed by the presidents OF the Mer-
chants Exchange Of San Francisco and OF
the Chamber of Commerce OF San Fran
cisco declaring that lie re-enactment OF
the Geary act would amply protect all i'm
portant American interests and allow the
OF trade relations with China.
Mr.. Hanna followed the reading OF this
telegram with another supposed telegram
from the United Bartenders, insisting on
his supporting the Chinese bill. Laugh
teri
Mr. Lodge proceeded with his speech
in support of the bill He said that he
did not propose the exclusion OF Chinese
because OF their morals. They had their
vices and their virtues. as other people
had. They were quiet race. Their
names were not found much in criminal
records. They attended to their business
He had not attacked the Chinaman or
the Chinese empire and ne had no desire
to do so. He hoped that the day would
come when the Chinese empire would be
Christianized.
The reason why the Chinese were Sc
lected for exclusion were twofold. The