Milford chronicle., 1905-02-17
Q PubIIe ssnlIneat ChaaeIng?

Several causes have seemingly combin.
to stimulate significant reaction IN publ
sentiment as to the exclusion OF Chinese ia
borers from this country.
Among these causes, as revealed Of late 4
the observation of the sentry, are the 10
creasing tyranny OF labor unions; the ever
present servant girl" question;and the gr, W
ing seriousness OF the labor problem in th,
South.
With so many cries for willing workeri
ringing in their ear, thousands ofthoughtfu
men are beginning TO suspect that we have
zone too far In shutting the door on ihe,mOsi
fireless and versatile laborers who have ever
'ffered their services 10 the American peo-
pie.
We excluded them some years ago in a
panic Of fear that we would be over-run by
"eheap labor that our civilization would be
endangered by an influx OF countless horses
Of heather aliens; and that the future OF our
institutions would be imperilled by the
swarmiRs millions OF Asiatics who would
come to everwheIm us by the sheer force Of
numbers, Some OF this fear was for the time,
al least, justifiable-more OF Il was doubtless
an echo Of saud-lot demagoguery. But ali
the argun ents were at Dest conclusive in
favor or restriction and strict regulation
rather than OF absolute exclusion
The Chinese we're excluded originally at the
Oehest Of"Organized labor, 'so-caIled, yet only
asmall proportion OF Chinese who come to
this country have ever engaged in the me-
chanical trades, which is supposed to be un.
der the special Jurisdiction aud protection OF
labor unions. Most ofthe MoDgol immigrants
are farm labOrers, filling a position which has
uet heretofore been subjected to the influence
OflabOr organizations, and for VIII. ch the de-
mand has always been In excess Of the sup
ply. Domestic service has also been an i'm.
portant field for the employment OF the Chr
aese, and here, too, is a constantly swelling
demand for competent workers.
One OF the arguments against their intro.
ductiOn was that the Chinese do not perma-
nently help this country, because they senu
their wages home. But the facts are ,tnat th,
work that they do is Of lasting benefit to the
country, aud that for every dollar they send
home they necessarily expend hve dollars
here for their living expenses. The perma-
nent improvements upon which they are en,- |
ployed and the wealth that tsey take out II |
the soil for the benefit oftheir employers. All /
remain here, and add to the aggregate pros
oerlty ofthe nation. They came to this coun-
try first IN large numbers, to aid in the build
ing Of the earliest Pacific railroads. When
mat task was completed, they became wage
earners in the mines and on the fruit farms
Of California, occasionally engaging iR some
trade.
II is urged by some that they lack Initiative
This might be an argument against them ift
we're feared that they would take possession
II our great Industrial, financial or com mer-
'ial enterprises and reap the immense profits
iccruing therefrOm. But II Is no argument
igainst them, considered merely as Iaborers.
'hey do not need "initiative" in that eapac-
", and their lack Of 1t, If established, would
'e the best possible guarantee that they would
Tot seriously interfere with the real progress
4 the American people We have enough
initiative ourselves to supply the world.
What we need is men whO will take orders
M execute them. In such capacities il
'ould seem that the dels is limitless, and
Kelly to remain so until our recources are
eVeloped TO a point far beyond anything
ow 10 sight. 1.-THE Chinese will continue to
ave their families at home and be content
work here for few years and then return
} their own cOuRtry, 1t would seem that the
yellow perir would have little chance 10
ause permanent injury to our institutions.
Cee9 ~ NV A@AANI AAnNAA IN the emu 10 a ue-
re on the part OF organized labor to mOnop.
lie the field which It has arrogated to Itself,
ld even other fields. which It has not en-
red? In this day OF regulating trusts, the
reliability is that the thoughtful people will
famine as carefully into the tendencies and
myers OF the labor trusts as they do into The
pital trusts. There is a labor trust that
iturally discountenances competition from
e employment Of foreign labor as It has an
gonlzed the Introduction OF laborsaving
echineryi whereby the productive power OF
e worker is vastly increased u the ibcoA-
nienee OF some individuals, .ut to the vast
nefit Of the nation as a whole.
1 may be found on reflection that the best
erests OF the country are not advanced by
present policy OF absolute exclusion OF
inese laborers; but would be better sub
we'd by heathful and reasonable system
restriction and regulation, which would
vent abuses, and yet allow our farmers to
ain laborers and our housekeepers to OBJ
D domestic servants when needed.
THE SENTRY.