The daily sentinel., 1906-03-23


There are some things in the ans
wer made by President Roosevelt TO
the large delegation rpresenting the
labor interests of the country, which
recently waited upon him. one humid
dred in number which appeals in
tensely to the sentiment of every true
American.
President Roosevelt talked plain
ly. most emphatically about labor
conditions. He told the distinguish
ed representatives of labor that he
had no patience with anyone who
would insist upon an eight-honr day
for labor ON the work of construc-
tion of the Panama canal and advanc-
ed most cogent reasons for his CON
clusion.
In referring again TO the Panama
matter he said it was an "absurdity"
70 think of putting into effect an
cight-hour law. where conditions
were conditions were so different and
where no white labor could be Sc
cured and where furthermore the
negro labor would only work about
three hours out of every week And
along these lines. which were most
convincing. he conclusively rpoved
that there was no analogy between
conditions here and work and life in
the tropics. hence his word absurd
ity' in stating his reasons for refus-
ing for a moment to consider an eight
hour day there. in connection with
government work. He did state in
labor in this country he was thor
oughly in accord with the eight hour
day.
In further commenting upon the
memorial presented to him he gave
utterance to the following strong
language upon the subject OF foresight
inmisrS ion and with tris language
we give our heartiest support as every
good American should. i12.e is the
lnnguags OF the president:
I'VE must not let Our natural
sentiment for succoring the OPP.
pressed and unfortunate OF other
lands lead ra into the warped
moral and mental attitude of try
ing to succor them at the expense
of pulling down our own people
Laws should he enacted to keep
ont all immigrants who did not
show that they have the right stun
in them to enter in To our life on
the terms of decent equality with
our own citizens. This Is needed
first in the interests of the labor
ing men, but furthermore in the |
interests of all of us ns American 4
citizens; for. gentlemen, the bonds
that unite all good American citi-
zcns are stronger by far than the
difference which | think you ac-
ccniuatc altogether too much be-
tween the men who do one kind
Of labor and the men who do an
other. As for immigrants, we can
not have too many of the right kind
and we should have none at all of
the wrong kind; and they are of
the right kind IL we can he fairly
sure that their children and grand
children can meet on terms of
equality our children and grand !
children so as To try to be decent
citizens together and 10 work to-
gether for the uplifting of the re-
public"
Does anyone desire more uplift-
ing argument or better Americanisnt
than Is expressed in the language
of the president We subscribe to /
such language. not because he might 4
be Democratic president or a Re-
publican president. but because he n
is an American and president II
We do not know what character
Of man 1t would he. who claims
10 be patriotic citizen, who could
not endorse the language spoken by
President Roosevelt to the labor rep
'eaentatiyes of this country