Arizona republican., 1905-07-13
PHOENIx. ARIZONA, JULY 1s, 1905.
Results of the Chinese Boycott

It is stated by the Douglas Interna- tional American that the government has ordered that the bounty of five dollars hitherto paid informers for the location of Chinamen who are unlaw- fully in the country shall no longer be paid and that in consequence a more or less lucrative industry along the Mexican line has been discouraged. It is not understood that the law against the admission of Chinese not entitled 10 reside in this country shall be re- faxed on the part of the regular off, cials but that the service of outsiders is to be done away with.
 In connection with the relations be- tween the Chinese and this govern nent the current number of the Lit erary Digest has compiled the follow ing:
 Tt required little more than threat on the part of China to boycott Unit ed States products to bring us to time exclaims the Milwaukee Free Press in commenting upon the instruc tions which President Roosevelt has given to Secretary Metcalf to be less rigorous in executing the exclusion laws. The Philadelphia Public Ledger speaks in a similar vein in assigning motive for the presidents action, and further declares:
 ." Now that the pocket nerve is be- ing touched, there is a Likelihood that the whole question of our relations with China will be reopened. The Chinese have found our vulnerable point. So long as they went on buy ing our goods, our statesmen, partic- ularly those from the Pacific coast, where the question of Chinese immi- grafton is felt in an acute form. could afford to ignore the considerations of national honor involved.
 Now. if the presidents orders are obeyed, Chinese officials, merchants, students and travellers will be ac- corded all the rights, privileges, and immunities' which are granted to cit izens of the most favored nation.' Only laborers will be excluded, and if discourtesy is shown to any one of the exempt classes, the official responsible will be immediately dismissed from the service But question has aris- en whether these orders can or will be obeyed. As the Public Ledger again points out:
 Secretary MetcaIf is between the devil and the deep blue sea on the question. He comes from a section where any relaxation of the govern ment methods of enforcing the exclu- sion law or of the regulations which have made it as difficult as possible for the Chinese merchant and student to come in will be interpreted as weakening on their great issue. He seems to have his ear so close to the ground and to have so intently in mind the possible effect upon his political fortunes of any action he may take iIi the direction of humane treatment O. the Chinese. that his apparent tenden- cy is to lean too far in the other di- rectiOn'
 Indeed, so strong is the belief in some quarters that Secretary Metcalf is dissatisfied with the attitude of the administration that the New York World publishes the prediction, that
 
 the final result will be that MT. Met calf will resign from the cabinet:' and it must be admitted that the po- sition of the secretary of commerce and labOr-a' popular and influential citizen of California-is exceedingly embarrassing if MT. Taft voiced the sentiment of his colleagues when he said at Miami university in condemn ing the exclusion laws
 fought we to throw away the yad- vantage which We have by reason of Chinese natural friendship for us and continue to enforce an unjustIy severe law, and thus create in the Chinese mind a disposition to boycott Ameri- can trade and to drive our merchants from Chinese shores. simply because we are afraid that we may for the time lose the approval of certain un- reasonable and extreme popular lead CTS of California and other coast states? Does the question not answer itself? Is it not the duty of members of congress and of the executive to disregard the unreasonable demands Of a portion of the community deeply pFejudiced upon this subject in the far west and insist on extending justice and courtesy to a people from whom we are deriving. and are likely to de- rive, such immense benefit in the way of international trade?
 But whether the prediction that Sec retary MetcaIf will resign be baseIess oF not. it should be noted that he did not remain silent in the face of cen sure and complaint. In fact he gave