The San Francisco call., 1905-04-22
UNIONS
N AXE PROTEST
Attitude Is Strong Against
Employment of japanese
to Dig the Panama Canal
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT
r9Ms:!assss

The employment of Japanese for the
construction of the Panama canal is
meeting with strong protest from the
labor unions of San Francisco. Last
night two of the leading organizations
of the city took formal action to make
known their attitude.
The San Francisco Labor Council
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas. The Isthmian Canal Commission
is about to conclude or has already concluded
contracts for the employment OF Japanese
iaborers on the Panama canal; and
whereas. The employment of Asiatic labor
ers to the exclusion or white colored labor
ers OF American origin would be confession
to furnish labor that In skill. endurance and
ability to combat adverse conditions to sue
eessiully carry on the construction OF It's great
public works. which we emphatically deny
and
Whereas Such course would not only
commit our Government to the fatal and short
sighted policy OF choosing the cheapest and
most servile labor available but would also
be violation Of the spirit. If not the letter.
In violation Of the thirteenth amendment OF
the constitution OF the United States; and
Whereas. No real difficulties need arise in
procuring the ten or twenty thousand men
necessary. from either the acclimated inhab-
itants or tropical America or from the hun
dreds of thousands OF our own unemployed.
who If cared for with but half the solicituds
shown our naval and military forces in the
tropics. would. we can safely assert; meet
all reasonable requirements to efficiency,
endurance and supply; and
Whereas. The construction of this canal the
greatest undertaking In the history OF our
country. Is to be paid for by millions OF dol
lars OF American money. appropriated by the
American Congress. and was designed for the
Dement, OF Americans first of all: therefore be II
Resolved, That we enter our earnest and
emphatic protest against this fragrant attempt
to wrest from American laborers and citizens
their natural and civil rights to do the work
of this nation exclusively and under Govern
mental protection from debasing competition
fIA o1io etc lab fhor
having gained foothold the isthmus Is
bound to establish upon the American conti-
nent plague spot which will spread out and
In time affect our entire civization:
Resolved, That urge upon our Govern
ment its paramount duty to favor American
labor at all hazards and not to forego this or
any other opportunity for the utilization OF
American skill and toll to promote the we'll
being. the contentment and prestige Of the
Resolved, That we urge and request the i'm
mediate canceing of any and all contracts
made or intended to be made for the employ
ment of Asiatic laborers on the isthmian
canal: and be 1t further
Resolved, That copies of these resolutions
be sent to the President. the Secretaries OF
Commerce. the Attorney General. the Isthnlian
Canal Commission. central bodies OF labor or
gani1ations throughout the United states ana
Resolved, That a telegraphic dispatch be
sent to the President of the United States as
follows: ITO the President: The San Fran
cisco Labor Council emphatically protests
against the employment of japanese and
Asiatic laborers on the Panama canal. and
earnestly requests you to nave all contracts
for the same Cancelled
The following resolutions were
passed by the City Front Federation:
Whereas, The Isthmian Canal Commission
is at present making arrangements for the
importation of thousands of Asiatics to be em-
ployed in constructing the Panama canal; and.
Whereas, Experience has proved that where
the Asiatic race. especially Japanese, have con-
~, her. fhax haU
white population; and.
whereas. The Importation of Asiatics to
the United states or her possessions is direct
violation of the alient contract IA Dor laws be II
Resolved BY the City Front Federation, in
regular meeting assembled April 10. 1905, that
we are most empbatically opposed to the en-
poyment of Asatics on the construction OF the
canal as being inimical to the best interests OF
the American people and uanger and menace
to our country: further
crnment of the United States contracting for
foreign labor in Violation of the law; further
Resolved. That a copy Of these resolutions
the Canal Commissioners and that copy be
given to the press -.
JOHN KEAN, Secretary.
Teamsters' Union No. s5 will give a
picnic at Fairview Park Sunday, July
2. George Duncan. John Stewart, Jo-
seph Kenealy, John La Torres, Arthur
Brophy and John O'Connell were ap-
pointed as a committee OF arrange
ments.
Coopers' Union No. 65 will hold
it's picnic at Schuetzen Park, San Ra-
fael. on Sunday, June Is. l. Bedan,
Robert Rossbach and Frank Stef-
fens will superintend the arrange
ments.
The date for the new wage schedule
recently adopted by the District Coun-
ell of Painters that was to go into ef-
feet on the first of next month has
been changed to July /.