The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-13
cosypnGr Jeo, sS JE.ryeoy
6o.S RON,

devolve upon the United states 10
legally and conclusiVely show that all
Chinese coolies and laborers. no mat
ter how great the numbers. and no
matter how deep their deception. who
would swarm 10 our country or its
possessions, would not he legally en-
titled TO enter.
LABOR ON CANAL ZONE.
"A plain sense of duty requires that
I should make a formal statement OF
facts relative TO the changed conditions
which now obtain and arc in course
OF determination In the construction or
the Panama canal. The Panama canal
commission. entrusted with its con-
struction, almost at the outset assumed
an attitude Of indifference or hostility
10 the position which labor declared TO
be essential and proper in regard
thereto.
AT the Boston convention the dec
laration was made i'm favor OF the con-
struCtion OF the canal connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans We re-
gardcd it as the most important public
work ever assumed by this or any
other nation, and a resolution was
adopted urging. that iuasmuch as we
have in our country hundreds OF thou
sands OF laborers of the italian and
other southern races. adapted i'm every
way TO the class Of work TO he under
taken at Panama" that, therefore. the
workmCn of tho United states should
he employed in the construction OF the
inter-oceanic canal.
Those i'm charge OF the construction
Of tho canal seemed bent upon the
policy the reverse OF this: in other
words, they seemed to have no other
conception that our government should
become the sponsor OF cheap laborers
in this great public work. We en-
deavored TO be OF assistance to the
work Of the commission. and urged AZ
several conferences that the Panama
-caaa4-he- -hX--and- as monument
to, the ingenuity enterprise and indus
try of the American people
IN the attorney generals opinion upon
the eight-hour. law ne held that the Pan
ANA canal is an American public work
and the eight-hour law applied thereto
If that position be true, and surely. we
all affirm II. then 10 follows that the
Panama canal strip Is American terri
tory American possession, and the bring
ing Of Chinese laborers there is In plain
violation Of law.
LABoR's CAMPAIGN.
Much interest has been aroused re-
garding the active campaign inaugurated
and carried on by the American Fedora
ton of Labor i'm the recent past La Dor s
opponents assumed 20 regard our actions
as an unwdrranted invasion of their do
main, that tho working people have no
right 10 exercise their sovereign power
Of citizenship TO punish politically those
who arc hostile or Indifferent to our
rights and interests. or 10 stand in ad-
Nocacy OF those who have proven them
selves as friends. and who have sympa-
thetically supported tho measures We
deem requisite 10 secure an enactment OF
laws having for their purpose the aboli-
ton OF inequalities and injustice. and tho
protection aud promotion Of those, rights
10 which labor is SO Justly entitled.
"Thcy accuse us OF threatening con-
grcssmen with our political ill viii. as II
people OF other interests do not advocate
and support the election Of those who ia
vor those interests, and threaten with pU-
litcal defeat those who are opposed to
them. Evidently. % is not understood
that tho ballot in Itself is the weapon
with which the constitution has invested
the citizen. not only TO threaten. but TO
carry that threat into execution