The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-14
Sidewalk PencilinSs
colonel wiley and Labor Problem.

Colonel Wiley and Labor Problem.
 "In my Decatur and Montgomery speeches, recently delivered" said Con- xressman A. A, Wiley, T tried to ex- plain thee laws regulating the impor- tation of laborers to this country. m discussing the questions or domestlc labor and foreign markets, by special request, I also endeavored to make it | plain that the coolies are already per manently excluded by name from land- | ing upon our shores, and from coming l into the United States or into any or .our possessions, even on visit. The next thing I heard was that favored Chinese immigration to the South Tn unlimited numbers. This is not even remotely true. I have expressed no opinion whatever upon that subject. Tn accounting for the Chinese boy colt I simply desired to give my im- pressions of the Far East and the na- and Japanese people As matter of fact the influence behind the Chinese exclusion act are so potential ana Tar reaching that it will be well nigh im- possible ever to obtain modification of that law, in so far as to admit Mon- golian laborers even in limited num- bers4
 As to laborers, Montgomery and other counties in the Black Belt are in a lamentable condition. It is not difficult to find many negro men idling around the streets of this city any day in the week, who will not work at any
  ems of our people who try to keep house in the towns. In many of the beats in the several counties constituting the Second Congressional district no negroes can be employed at any price, and the labor problem has become most seri- ous one. There is not a doubt that when the Chinese boycott of American goods and Southern cotton abates, the heecy staple will go up to 15 cents per pound, provided be can get enough la borers to produce desirable results.
 "Thre is another fact which the farmers of the South seem to have en- tirely overlooked, to wit, that under the general alien law, no person, firm or corporation can solicit or employ laborers in foreign countries to work in the United States; cannot contract with them or offer any inducement to them to come here as laborers; and if any foreign laboTers land upon our shores under a contract or upon any inducement to pay them wages upon their arrival here. they will be deport- ed, and the man who brings them into the country will be fined $1,0OO in gold. By reason of this law, no good class of laborers receives any encouragement to come into our midst. and North America is made the dumping ground for the slum and refuse of European nations This in my opinion, is more serious problem, especially to the peo- pie of the South. than the so-called yellow peril The only remedy for this distressing condition of affairs is the creation of an Immigration Bureau by the State. The penalties imposed upon an individual by the general ex- ciusion act do not fall upon sovereign State. The law does not apply to commonwealth. If Alabama had a Commissioner of Immigration we might do something in the near future to- wards securing able bodied. healthy Sweedes and Germans to come here.
 The outlook is lamentable, but we are compelled under existing legal lim- itations to sail slowly If we would weather the gale and escape the shoals in our pathway of the sea-
 Indiwnant at Street Fairs.
 "I hope" said an indignant citizen, "that the question of allowing Street Fairs in Montgomery will be made an issue in our next city election and I predict that any candidate who an nounces himself in favor of them will be beaten at the polls, as he should be.
 From expressions l have heard to- day our citizens are thoroughly dis gusted with these abuses of the. streets. It is preposterous for a city so large as Montgomery to turn its main thorough fares over to a lot of sideshows, there by inconveniencing the public, barring trafiic, hampering business and demor- alixing normal conditions.
 Booths and shows have been put in front of stores whether the proprietors wanted them or not and 1t appears that all laws regulating the downtown dis tricts have been suspended.
 "These Street Fairs attract a motley throng. composed in the main of ne- groes, and it is unsafe for ladies to be down town at all. One prominent woman of Montgomery was openly in- suited twice on Dexter Aveue yesterday and she was afraid to appeal to any of her friends for fear of creating a scene, The man who did this should have had his head punched, but the city officials who authorized these terrible abuses are responsible for it.
 T have no doubt the police will do all in their power to preserve order dur ing the week. but 1t is too late to rec tify the great wrong committed on the people by the Council"
 Mir. Solon Welcome. a well known citizen of Montgomery, who has a wide circle of friends. is reported to be crit- ically III at his home. 200 Holcombe Street.
 Among the distinguished visitors to Montgomery yesterday was Mir John D Tillman, prominent lawyer of Bir- ningham.
 Rev MT sherman, an EpisconaI mis- sionary Of Hankow, China, was expeet- ed here tomorrow. but he will moi hA able to stop over in this city. The