The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-24
Chinese Boycott and I'm
migration Questions.
AGITATION is USELESS
Interview With Senator Simmons. The
Kind OF Labor North Carolina
Needs. The Establishment OF
a Colony Of Firms in
This Stale.

Although it is'not generally known,
the North Carolina representatives in
Congress were the chief movers in
organizing the Southern Industrial
Parliament, which recently met in
Washington, and has resulted in
stimulating commercial and Industrial
activity in the South. 1t is known by
far fewer persons that the agitation
of the Chinese labor and boycott
question, which are now being dis
Cussed throughout the whole country,
originated at the Southern Industrial
Parliament and that the debate which
inspired the agitation of these ques-
tions was prccipitated by North Caro-
lima delegates to the Parliament
The mill men of the state and the
South have moved promptly in this
matter, and their action and attitude
are i'm harmony with the conference.
which was held between President
Roosevelt and Mr. w. A. Erwin, of
Durham, a prominent cotton manu-
facturer, at the recent meeting of the
Parliament.
United States Senator r. M. Sim
mons, who was probably more in-
hucntial than any other Southerner ~
tho organization of the Parliament
in an interesting interview yesterday,
stated that all further discussion OF.
the Chinese coolies immigration rs use
less. because thepCg'fs absolutely no
possibility of Congress allowing these
people to enter the United states. The
movement i'm China against American
goods he said, does not grow out or
the exclusion of Chinese cpolie labor
but grows entirely out Of the enforce
ment of the Chinese exclusion legis-
lation so as to practically exclude, not
Cnly the coolies, but reputable ana
influential Chinese merchants, traders,
students and travellers. China, he
continued. has mover specially re-
scnted the exclusion OF the Chinese
laborcr. for il is a fact that she does
not care to have them to come TO this
country at all: but China does resent,
and naturally the exclusion of these
other classes under the enforced con-
struction of tho law 1t Is not heceS-
sary that our Southern mills shall
their doors to Chinese labofers in
order to get Chinese trade for their
goods. All that is necessary is TO
modify the rather too rigid features
of the present law that will enforce
it in more liberal spirit. ] am glad
to see our mill men exercised to bring
about a more liberal construction and
enforcement of these laws, because
! unless something is done TO remove
| the friction growing out of this too
drastic construction and enforcement
| the resentment Of Chinese merchants
will undoubtedly result in great i'm
| jury, especially to our Southern trade
with thatocountry The President and
| the Secretary Of Labor and Commerce
can and / am sure will remedy this
trouble
In speaking of the Chinafnan as a
| laborer, and if he were wanted in the
South. Senator Simmons said that as
n farm hand, the Chinaman has no
superior, but there are great many
Fundamental obligations to the Chi
nesc as laborors on the Southern
| farms, or in the mills of the South.
| The Cli tlman takes no interest in
| the country or it's people, lie saves
all he makes. but he sends 1t all to
! China himself following as soon as
| he has saved a few hundred dollars,
which in China, constitute a COM
| retence. He is peaceable law-abid-
! ing, gives full value for wages re-
ceived; but he consumes practically
nothing. and works too cheap. I'm
| doubtedly" said tho Senator, the
farmers Of the South must have rela-
! lively cheaper labor than the Western
| farmer, because for physical reasons
we cannot employ the machinery here
| that trey DO In the western states.
But wc~ do not need cheap Chinese
labor 1t is not to the best interest
Of tho state that lebor.in any avoca-
! ton should be so low that any man
/ by the exercise cf industry and
economy cannot properly raise and
| educate his children. and constantly
| better his own condition in life"
Why Chinese Labor is Opposed.
| The ooDosit.on to the Chinese on
| the Pacific coast is not because he is
NOT a good farm laborer for there is
not better. but because his standard
of living is below what enlightened
public sentiment regards as the prop
er standard CT tho American laborer
and citizen. kE