Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-15
57TH CONGRESS-.
Chinese Exclusion and Cuban
Reciprocity Under Debate.
Foraker and McLaurin Speak Against
the Former Measure.
Cuban Reciprocity Opponents Are
Fighting Every Point.

Washington, April 1.-THE Chinese
/ exclusion bill occupied the attention of
the Senate. throughout today. Foraker
and Mcl.aurin, S. c., making extended
speeches in opposition. Foraker con-
tended that the pending measure was
ViolatiVe of our treaty with China and
was calculated to prevent our COM
merclal expansion in the Far East
While strongly supporting the policy
of the government to exclude Chinese
laborerS, the Ohio senator maintained
that this could be best ACCOMPLISHED
by an extension of the present law
holding that the drastic provisions of
the pending bill would cut off our cot
ton trade with China and thus wreck
the cotton industry of the south.
Teller briefly responded to Foraker
urging that the right to abrogate
treaties was fully recognized
Lodge, Mass, gave notice of an
amendment striking out the much dis
cussed clause prohibiting the employ
ment of Chinese sailors on American
ships.
The Chinese exclusion bill was taken
up by the Senate after the disposal of
routine business, and McLaurin, s. c.
spoke in support of an extension of
the present law.
McI.aurin said it was inconceivable
| that any honorable nation, least of all
| the United States. should surrender its
integrity by deliberately adopting poll
cies and enacting laws in violation of
1t 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 it's restric-
tive action and inimicable spirit to kill
consideration of vital importance to
South Carolina with it's vast cotton
production and the growing shipments
of cotton goods to China.
rs it fair to the people of the South"
| asked Senator McLaurin, Just as they
are beginning to prosper in manufac-
turing and commercial enterprises, af-
ter long years of trouble and priyation
to tear down and crush their new en-
terpriseS, on the assumption that such
| a ruinOus policy is necessary in order
to keep out the Chinese, when in point
of fact it is not at all necessary and the
Chinese are being kept out by the ex-
listing law? That is the plain business
proposition at the basis of the whole
question:
McLaurin said the effect of a shut
down in the China trade and the con-
sequent 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 operatives would suf-
| fer. In South Carolina some 5000 opera
tives would be injured while the same
result would occur in North Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama and all the states
| where cotton is grown or cotton goods
are manufactured.
| Foraker, Ohio, followed in a speech
opposing certain features of the meas
ure. At the outset he said he desired
to emphasize the fact that he was not
opposed to the general proposition that
Chinese laborers. skilled or unskilled,
should be excluded. His opposition was
not on account of the prohibition
policy, but was on account Of other
features, the senator declared, were in
violation of our treaty rights and were
calculated to work serious injury to
the people of this country, especially to
| the wage workers.
Foraker took up the various treaties.
showing the DEVELOPMENT of the exclusion
policy and the various rights given and
restrictions imposed.
Replying to a question from Platt Ct.
| Foraker said that Ii Hung Chang would
have been excluded from this country I'M
| der the provisions Of the pending bill and
China could reciprocally exclude our mis-
| scenarios, engineers and students.
Foraker opposed the pending bill as
| violative of treaty, and inaugurating
an unwise policy.
Quarles, Wis. asked if the new Chinese
policy of sending youths to American
schools would not make each one of these
youths an advance agent of American
civilization. Foraker responded by read
ing recent edicts directing that young
| men from every province be sent abroad
| to study. And yet. declared Foraker, at
| this moment senators were asked to vote
to exclude Chinese students from our
| shores. In his judgment a more unwise
provision had not been proposed since he
| entered the eSnate.
Foraker denied that the proposed meas
ure was in the interest of our wage earn
! ers. The United States, he said has an
enormous surplus product which must be
disposed of in the outside world. We
| must look to the Far East. particularly
now that we have foothold in the Phil
| ippines. In China, declared the senator,
| is the greatest opportunity of a market
| that the world affords today.
| Lodge proposed amendments to what
| is known as the seaman's clause One
| of the amendments struck out the entire
| clause prohibiting Chinese sailors on
| American ships. and the other increased
| to $4,000 the bond to be given by foreign
| ships not to permit the landing of Chi
| nese sailors. The amendments went over.
| Responding to F'orakerS contention
that the pending bill was violative of our
treaty with China. Teller. Colo, pointed
out that the right to abrogate treaty