The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-22
ROOSEVELT TAKES
LABOR CHALLENGE
Continued From First Page.

to here that it is impossible to draw |
conclusions affecting the one from what !
is true about the other. You hamper
me in the effort to get for you what I
with the eight hour law, when you make
a request that is indefensible and to
grant which would mean Indefinite de-
lay and injury to the. work on the
isthmus. IT,
GAS to the violations Of the eight
hour law, Mr.. Morrison, you give me
no specifications. At your earliest con-
venience please lay before me in detail
any complaints you have OF violations
Of the eight-hour law. Where I have
power l will see that the law is obeyed.
Must Have the Facts.
"All l ask is that you give me the
cases. l will take them up, and IT they
prove to be sustained by the facts I
shall see that the law is enforced.
Now, about the Chinese exclusion.
The number of Chinese now in this
country is, if I remember Alright, some
sixty or seventy thousand. So far from
there being great influx OF the Chi
nese, the fact is that the number has
steadily decreased.
"There are fewer Chinese that there
were 10 years ago, fewer than there
were 20 years ago, fewer than there
were 30 years ago. Unquestionably some
scores Of cases occur each year where
Chinese laborers get IN either by being
Struggled over the Mexican and Cana
dian borders. or by coming in under
false certificates; but the steps that we
have taken, the changes in the consuls
that have been made within the last
few years in the orient, and the effort
the immigrants are allowed to come
here. are materially reducing even the
small number of cases that do occur.
'But even as it is the number of
these cases is insignificant. There is
no appreciable influx Of Chinese labor
ers and there is not the slightest or
most remote danger of any; the whole
scare that has been worked up on the
subject is pure chimera.
Coolie Glass Is Barred.
I" It is my deep conviction that we
must keep out Of this country every
| Chinese laborer, skilled or unskilled-
| every Chinaman Of the coolie class.
This is what the proposed law will do;
it will be done as effectively as under
the present law. and the present law
ficiency. But I will do everything in
my power to make it easy and desir-
able for the Chinese of the business
and professional classes, the Chinese
travellers and Students, to come here,
and will do all / can to secure their
good treatment when they come; and no
laboring man has anything whatever to
fear from that policy. I have a right
to challenge you as good American citi-
zens to support that policy; and in any
event I shall stand unfinchingly for
1T; and no man can say with sincerity
that on this, or, indeed, any other point,
he has any excuse for misunderstanding
my policy. -
"You have spoken of the immigra.
all proper steps should be taken tt
prevent the importation of laborers I'M
der any form, but T believe furthe,
that this coAntssy ought To- make reso
lutte effort from now on to prevent thu
coming to the country of men with
standard Of living 50 low that they
tend, by entering into unfair competi
ton with, to reduce the standard Of
living Of our own people.
j Friend of Laboring Man. = r
''Not one of you can 90 further thar
I will 90 in the effort steadily to raise
the status Of the American wageworker
so long as, while doing it, I can retain
a clear conscience and the certainty
do all in my power for the laboring maj
: except to do what is wrong, and I viii
not do that for him or for any on,
;; else.
"We must not let our natural senti
mont for succoring the oppressed ant
; unfortunate of other lands lead us int,
: that warped moral and mental attitud
, pense of pulling down our own people
Laws should be enacted to keep out al
immi grants who do not show that the,
have the right stuff in them to ente
into our life on terms of decent equalit'
with our own citizens. This is needle,
first in the interests OF the laborinl
man, but furthermore in the interest
s Of all of us as American citizens; fol-
8 gentlemen, the bonds that unite al
e good American citizens are stronger b.
far than the differences-which L thin
s you accentuate altogether too much
a between the men who do one kind of la
s Dor and the men who do another.
$ Want Good Immigrants.
have too many of the right kind; an
we should have none at all of the wron
kind; and they are Of the right kin
if we can be fairly sure that their chi
dren and grandchildren can meet O
, terms of equality our children an
grandchildren, so as to try to be decor
citizens together and to work togethe
for the uplifting of the republic.
HNow word as to the petitioning 9
employees of congress. That stands
no shape or way on par with the pet
tioning of men not employed in tn
government. I cannot have and wi
not have, when [ can prevent it, me
who are concerned in the ADMINISTERS
ton of government affairs going
congress and asking for increased pa
without the permission of the heat
of the departments. Their business
to come thru the heads of department
This applies to postmasters, to arm
and navy officers, to clerks in the go
! eminent departments, to laborers:
applies to each and all, and must app
as a matter Of simple discipline
See President Again.
president three-quarters Of an hou
and the subjects suggested were CO
sidered informally after the adore
had been delivered: It was agreed tn;
on points Of difference the executi7
council of the federation should a
point a committee of three, which shoul
draft the views of the organizatit
and submit them to the president at
later date. It is likely that Presidel
Gompers will be the chairman of th
committee. .,..~-.,... .-
Earlier in the day the DELEGATE,
called on Speaker Cannon and Senat
Frye Of Maine, president pro tenn
the senate, and laid before them t.
same memorial, which they presented
the president.
FACTS IN THE CASE.
Chicago News.
"According to the papers, said tt