Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-03-30
M'ashln9toa Standard
H;.XNpIt. WASH.
FHIDiT MORNING, MARCH 80, 1906.
Invasion OF Labor.

nv A"NC''o .J'' VI % AhSO NAV,
under the headline Of Army Of
Toilers Invading the Northwest" COM
pletely verifies the prospect of danger
so oft referred TO in these columns re-
garding the Asiatic invasion of the
fields OF labor. The trouble at our
fisheries, in shing.e mills and logging
camps by the aggressively Industrious
little Jap, that have hitherto otscured
the labor field are as summer clouds
to the storm forces that portend the
near future, from the demand for rail.
road laborers in construction OF several
rival continental lines, and with Puget
Sound never forgotten as the Western
terminus.
The article, seven columns in length,
reviews the situation and conditions
from many impregnable standpoints.
1t is shown how patient, uncomplain-
ing and effective, is coolie labor, and
how cheap it can be afforded, with
rice diet for food, pair OF blankets
for bed and the sky for a covering
There are no strikes OF this kind OF
labor, unless it be against tho boss
contractor, and that is generally
fought out before the contract is made
and the ocean is crossed. The white
man is always under surveillance of
walking delegates, who have to "earn
their keep" by schemes for higher
wages or shorter hours, while the
plodding Jap works on, and on, with
the precision of machine, requiring
but little oil or attention to keep him
moving. The Northern Pacific already
have thousand Japs on their grade
and want to increase the number to
ten thousand. There are fully five
thousand working on other lines OF
construction, with prospect of like
increase of numbers.
If railroad construction were to
continue for q number Of years, to
give continuous employment to this
class of immigrants, it might be more
patiently borne; but the unwelcome
thought will obtrude, what may be.
come of this effective class OF labor
when the roads are completed? Evi.
IDENTIFY new fields will have to be de.
veloped, suited to their peculiar quail.
itications, or fields already established
will be invaded, and tho white man
and his family will be brought into
competition in the already strenuous
struggle for subsistence.
The Ledger article estimates that
about 5000 Japs will find employment
this season in the fisheries, but that
demand is regulated by seasons, and
those who find positions in the harves,
fields will be under the same condi.
ton, that 10 liable at times to glut
other avenues for providing support to
the laborer.
The masses have the means OF
redress within their own hands, but
they are careless in making provision
for tho future. They agree upon the
proposition that something should be
done, but, like Artemus Ward did his
patriotic fighting, by RELOCATING it to
others. Those who hold Office are
farther out of the reach of invasion of
their field, and they make q practice
of standing in" with commercial.
ISM" which is just now in the saddle.
Others cling to the ofice.holders'
coat-tails and make a living by pick.
ing up crumbs that fall from the pie
table, leaving but the common laborer
to vote as he feels, and he is to some
degree controlled by the terror of
public opinion.
1t may be, however, that q few such
object lessons Is We will surely have,
will produce . revolution of thought
and action, and it is we'll that such
articles as Army of Toilers" be read
and rondered by those so deeply inter-
ested.