Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-10-26
FROM WASHINGTON

The workingmen of the country
are vitally Interested in some of
the work of this republican admin
istration, brewing right now. If
they do not take steps to stop it,
by voting this administration off
the face Of the earth at the coming
election, then they will be to blame
for welding more tightly ON their
wrists, the shackles they so long
have worn as bracelets, proud of
them as a badge of republicanism.
The facts that should immediate
Iy interest every working man,
union or non-union, are as follows:
An attempt is on foot to take
away from the laboring men of
this country the Safeguards thrown
around them by the Congress, to
protect them against Chinese com
petition, and to substitute for the
law a treaty to be agreed upon by
the Secretary of State, and the
Chinese Minister, and to be sent
by the President TO the Senate for
its ratification in secret session be-
hind closed doors.
The State department tells its
own story in semi-ofiicial state
ments furnished to the press. The
Washington Star of October 10
contained the following. 1t is
given with the Stars headings.
The Star is a thick-an'-thin repub-
lican supporter of the Administra-
tiOn.
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Foundations for a New Treaty
Now Being Laid.
Secretary Hay and Sir Chen
tung Liang Cheng have at last be-
gun to lay the foundation for a
new Chinese exclusion treaty and
it is expected that the convention
will be ready for submission To the
Senate at the approaching session
in December next. The treaty will,
it is understood, replace all exist
ing law ON the subject and under
ordinary conditions that fact might
be expected TO arouse antagonism
ON the part of the House of Repre-
senatives, which will thus be de-
prived of share in the framing of
exclusion measures.
However. il is believed that a
disclosure of the purpose of the
new treaty will reconcile the House
to the adoption of the method pro-
posed TO effect the exclusion of
undesirable Chinese and will assure
the treaty 10y the Senate. It's the
intention to continue in full force
in the treaty the principal of the
exclusion of Chinese coolies and
the Chinese government itself is
perfectly willing that that should
bc done. But the treaty will con-
tain provisions regarded as much
needed and earnestly sought for
10y the Chinese government for
many years, looking To a more
conSlderate. liberal and kindly
treatment of the higher class of
Chinese seeking To enter our ports.
There have been constant com
plants of indignities hoaped upon
Chinese merchants and scholars
and even high-class officials by the
harsh application of the existing
exclusion laws, and the collectors
of customs and immigration Off
Gals have uniformly answered crit
lclsms on that point by the decla-
ration that they were simply en-
forcing the law which it is now the
purpose to qualify by the new con-
vention."
The Associated Press was fur
nshed with the same statement,
and the Department was at once
bombarded with protests by tele-
graph from various sections. To
allay as much as possible the hos
Tile feelings aroused by this new
departure on the Chinese question,
the State Department made the
following defense through the
medium of the Washington Star OF
the l1th. Read what it saws ''by
authority"
r INCLUDING CHINESE
LABOR.
Reason for TIrUancv in Droft;no