Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-10

Cinnamon will be brought into thascounfry
by the importers, bound for a certain term
of service. and returned to Chan at the
expiration of such period. Their families
will be allowed to go with them, aud they
will be under the protection not only Of
the British government officials, OF of rep
resentatives of the Chinese government as
well. Presumably this movement of coolies
will be conducted by the Chinese Qrganiza-
lions or great mercantile isompa li&s which
have been carrying on this trafficsfor many
years. and no grave violation OF the con-
ditions agreed upon. either between the
two governments. or between the employer
and employed will be possible. The Chinese
companies, in their dealings with the
coolies. undertake all the expenses and re-
sponsibilities, receiving such percentage of
the earnings as will reimburse tnem with a
profit.
ready notified the British government that
in the final agreement made between China
and England the former Will insist upon
The Chinese minister in London has al
the right of a Chinese government agent
to visit the mines to inspect the accommo-
dations and to make representations to the
authorities on the subject of any matter
affecting the comfort and well being of the
contract laborer. No corporal punishment
will be allowed, and a violation of this
regulation is to be punishable under the
common law as an assault NO man can
act as labor agent and become dealer or
Spectator in labor. The importer of Chi
namen must be a bona fide employer. The
coolies are to be returned to their port of
embarkation at the termination OF their
service, and they are only to travel in Brit
ish or Chinese ships. so as to permit of the
enforcement of regulations for the protec-
ton of emigrants.
The men who have enormous property
interests at stake in South Africa have long
been working on this labor problem. They
have sent agents throughout the world,
wherever Chinese were employed. to make
reports not only upon the quaiity OF the
labor, but upon the general conditions sur
rounding their employment. Several of
these reports have been received from Cali
fornia one of the most interesting coming
from a Mr.. Pickstone, who has employed a
great many Chinese in connection with
fruit farming in California and the South
Africa. Mr. Pickstone is an earnest oppo-
nent of the introduction of Cinnamon into
a country where they will be brought into
competition with white labor but in his re-
port he makes the interesting statement
that it is the virtues of the Chinaman we
fear and not his vices. BY this ne means
that the Chinese industry, docllty. econo-
my in living, thus making low wages not
only possible, but profitable render him an
undesirable co-laborer with the white man
in country where prosperity depends upon
the earning power of the independent citi-
zen.
British faith in the future of the Trans
vaal as source of unlimited wealth is
something stupendous. Alfred Moseley, now
so well known in the United states through
his industrial commission tours mas ac-
cumulated his enormous fortune In South
African mines and has been associated in
business for years with every great mining
enterprise of the region. He goes so far
as to say that he believes the future pro-
duction of gold from South African fields
will be so great as to raise the prices of
all commodities to high level through a
resulting abundance of gold, the standard
of value To secure this gold, however,
manual labor is a necessity, and that in I'M
limited and dependable supply. English
men interested in these South African
properties believe that with the introduc-
ton of contract coolie labor the future of
the African mining country is assured. Men
who are entirely absorbed in politics both
at home and in Cape Colony are fearsome
of the effect of this move upon their fu-
lures for the Chinaman and the kaffir have
no vote and the labor organization is more
powerful in English politics, mot only IN
England itself, but in the colonies, than
any other single interest.
j. D. WHELPLEY.