The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-14
GOMPERS CALLS
SH0NTS VERAC|TY
into QUESTION

Washington. Aug 14-Samuel Gompers,
president OF the American Federation OF
Labor yesterday issued a statement in
which he reiterates his former statement
that Mr. Shonts. chairman OF the Panama
Canal commission, had emphatically de-
cided In the presence OF James O'Connell,
vice president OF the federation that Chit
nese coolie labor would not be used in the
construction OF the canal
THE statement given out by Shonts." Z"
he said. lis a rare document. II his judg-
ment on canal matters is as wide OF ac-
curacy as his statement OF fact and law,
the people are certainly in a bad way,
so far as any hope OF the actual COM
pletion OF the canal whether near orsre-
mote.
"Of course, II Is useless now to discuss
with Mr.. Shonts the advisability OF the
eight-hour law in Panama Canal con-
struction. He had sufficient influence
with the congress hostile 10 labor TO se-
cure the annullment OF not only the
eight-hour law, but the eight-hour prin-
ciple in the construction OF the Panama
canal. The future will determine the
jurgment OF the people Of our country up
on that subject.
But as to his statement that the Chi
nese Exclusion law specifically sets forth
that such laws are only 20 be applicable
to territory at that time subject 70 the
authorities OF the United States, referring
TO the enactment OF the law, and that
the canal zone was acquired subsequent
to that date Is simply absurd. There is
no such provision In the law as he states
II.
HE states further: The law excluding
Chinese from the United States and its
possessions was passed in March 1903
This is another one Of Mr.. Shonts' abb
surdities. for no such law was passed
at the time stated by him.
For some time previous 10 my inter-
view with Mr. Shonts in the office OF the
Isthmian Canal commission, IL was fire.
quently published that he contemplated
employing Chinese in Panama. and also
that he did not believe that the eight
hour law then applied 10 the Panama
construction. The attorney general wrote
an opinion. that the eight-hour law did
apply. upon the ground that IL was an
American possession.
1T was because Of Mr.. shonts position
that, together with Mr.. James O'Connell
president OF the Interna tional Association
Of Machinists and vice president or the
American Federation OF Labor. I called
upon Mr.. Shonts with the intention of dis
cussing both his eight-hour contention
and 10 protest against the employment OF
Chinese.
I'VE were unable 70 persuade Mr..
shonts from his snti-eight-hour position.
There were but few minutes devoted TO
the subject OF the employment OF the
Chinese on the Panama canal for the
reason that Mr. Shonts so emphatically
declared that II ws not his intention TO
employ Chinese in the construction OF the
canal, and that they would not be en-
ployed under his administration
To-day l asked Mr. O'Connell as TO
whether his recollection bore out Mr..
Shonts that my statement was due 10
misapprehension' on my part He an
swered that the misrepresentation was
entirely on the part Of Mr.. Shonts and
not mine.
congress violated the eight-hour prin-
ciple; now Chairman shonts proposes 10
violate the Chinese Exclusion law upon
which fact and principle there is such a
deep-seated sentiment and conviction
among the people OF our country"