The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-02-17

Koreans. We object to these Glasses
Of s. labor upon three general grounds,
upon the racial ground the economic
ground and the political ground
We object to the Asiatic laborer
whether Chinese or japanese, because
ne comes from a different and an UNI
ass1milable race, because he comes
from the Monaghan as opposed to the
Caucasian race.> We regard this prob
lem as the problem of race preserva-
ton. We object to these classes of
labor upon the economic ground, be-
cause they tend to undermine, and do
as a matter of fact, undermine the
standard OF living to which the Amer
lean laborer is assustorned and which
he desires to maintain.
We object to the Asiatic upon the
political ground, upon the main ground
that, being incapable of becoming q
citizen of the United States, he is q
standing menace to the perpetuity of
our political institutions. We can not
afford to have in the United States
class of labor permanently prescribed,
permanently denied political rights, be-
cause after all, gentlemen, it is upon
the laborer and upon the exercise OF
the laborer of political freedom that
the whole superstructure of our gov
ernment rests. 10 the extent that the
laborer is denied the right to particle
pate in the political affairs OF the ma
ton you endanger and undermine the
political institutions Of the nation.
(Applause.)
In the state OF California and other
states of the union on the Pacific coast,
the Chinese and Japanese have driven
the white man on the soil. They have
driven the white man out OF certain
Industries, not only the laboring man,
but the business man. In some Sec
tions of California they are establish.
ing banks and driving the bankers
out of business. 1t is not simply a
question Of protecting labor gentle
men; it is a question of protecting all
classes OF men. Just as sure as the
Japanese are permitted to come in
here without let or hindrance, they
will drive us all across the Rocky
Mouptains.
Now, I desire to answer some of the
statements that have been made by the
speaking of the inception of the agi-
tation of the Chinese, said that it was
brought about by Dennis Kearny and
the "sandlotters.' Now that is a FAM
iliar expression. We have all heard
1T before. 1t is customary when one
lacks a good argument in favor OF
permitting Chinese immigration to as
cribe the hostility to the Chinese to
the "sandlotters." 1t may be that at
one time in the state of California the
sentiment against the Chinese was con-
fined to certain classes and it may be
that certain men made use of the SEN
timent to further their own peculiar
and personal interests. But at the
present time all of the people of Cali
fornia are 'sandlotters," and I have the
honor. of being one of them myself.
In the state of California, In the Jap
anese and Korean Exclusion League
and in other associated bodies and fra
ternal organizations, men of all polit-
ical questions and in all spheres of
society are represented in the exclusion
movement. So that it is no longer q
matter of prejudice on the part of a
certain class OF people.
1T was said by the same gentleman
that the Asiatic does not intend to be-
come citizen. He is DESTROYS Of re-
turning to his own country. Then he
asks: DO we wish him (the Asiatic)
to do the work which we ourselves do
not wish to do?' Now gentlemen let
me suggest seriously to your mind that
that is the most vicious, most danger
Gus proposition that could possibly be
M fo in
that the idea that we should sit here,
body of Intelligent men, American
| citizens. standing here for equality of
all classes, and seriously consider a
proposition OF bringing into this coun-
try men who are to be confined to Ger
tain so-cal1ed mental classes of labor,
is repugnant to a proper spirit OF man.
hood and opposed to ap roper concep-
ton OF American institutions.
For my part I do not wish any man
to come into this country to do ANY
work that 1 myself am not prepared
to do. For my own part I regard all
classes OF work as equally honorable
The man who drives the pick in
trench is equally honorable with the
gentleman who drives the quill in
counting room. I trust gentlemen
that you will not consider that dem
agogy. That, in my judgment is good
Americanism, nothing more or less
The idea that we should invite q coolie
race here, to come and do certain work.
conveys the impression that certain
classes of labor are to be enslaved in
this country and that certain classes
of labor are undesirable. Now, if you
are going to accept that theory: you
must modify your views concerning our
entire institutions upon which the Am
erican nation is founded.
The gentleman says that this nation
must be missionary nation. That is
to say we must invite the Chinese over
here to convert them. Well, that
would be alright, but the trouble is
that the boot is on the other leg The
Chinaman comes here and converts U.S.