The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-28
REPUBLICANS AND LABOR.

Before any workingman AFFILIATED
with the Republican party is led into
deserving that party at the behest OF
ambitious leaders, he should ponder
over what that party has done says
the Cincinnati Times Star. II is need
less now to point out the importance
Of keeping open the mills and factor
les through the application of the
protection principle. Instead atten-
ton should be devoted to direct labor
legislation. The record is a complete
refutation Of the claim that labor has
been ignored. 1t is as follows:
Involuntary Servitude Of Foreigners.
In 1874 the Forty-third Congress,
which was Republican in both houses,
prohibited under heavy penalties the
holding to involuntary services of any
person forcibly kidnapped in any Other
country.
Peonsgo.-The act abolishing this
Lind of forced labor was passed by
the Thirty-ninth Congress-, when both
houses were Republican. by large
majority, March 2. 1867.
The coolic Trade.--The legislation
the ccolie trade is tho work of the
Republicans. The act of 1876 closed
our doors to. the paupers and GRIM
mails OF Europe. and the exclusion act
Of 1882 stopped the immigration Of the
Chinese. Upon the annexation CT
Hawaii In 1903 the Immigration OF
Chinese thereto was prohibited by
Republican Congress. as was the mi.
grafton OF those already in Hawaii
from the islands to continental Bnited
States, In President Rcoseveit's ad.
ministration tho Chinese exclusion
laws have been extended to the entire
island territory of the United States.
tAct passed by the Fifty-seventh Con-
gress and approved April 90, 1909
The importation OF foreign laborers
under contract was first prohibited in
1855. but. owing to defective provis-
ions for enforcing the law, continued
slmcs. unchecked until the amend
meats made in President Harrisons
administration. tActs of the Fifty.flrst
Congress, which was Republican in
both branches, and OF tho Fifty second
Congress, signed March ), 1891, and
March 3, 1875, respectively
Tho FIRST eight hour law in tbs coan.
Try was enacted by the Foitieta Con-
gsess and approved by President Grant
In 1868. 1t applied to all artisans and
laborers employed by the Government
In the Fifueth Congress tlSSS) the
eight hour day was csta blished for let
ter carriers. Tho bin passed the Sen
Gto which was Republican, without
division.
In President IIarrison's administ-a.
ton the cight.hoar law was extended
70 include persons employed by con.
tractors on public works, (Chapter
co. CT the acts OF 1892
Tho oct creating the United States
Bureau of Labor was passed by the
Forty-etshth Congress uSSD and
signed by President Arthur. In the
Fitt!eth Congress tiSssl the bureau
was removed from the Department Of
the Interior end made an Independent
Department. cf Labor, all the votes cast
asa.na. the bin being Democratic. In
1908 a Republican Congress establish
ed the Department OF Commerce and
Labor pn;l made its head Cabinet
Office.
Tho Republican position Upon labor
legislation is admirably expressed in
the language nf President Roosevelt:
"on no Sabject ia Il more important
TO have wise and sound legislation
Ihan where the interests of, labor are