Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14

In the country to work the mines. and 1t
was desirable to increase their output.
which was entirely dependent upon obtain
labor was very limited at the close of the
war; Ii was less than 1t ever had bean, be-
cause the military had employed so many
natives about the camps and garrisoas and
paid them such high wages, including 1000.
that most of them had saved money and
had no incentive to work The mine owners
could not go to India, because Hindot, labor
had already been tried and had failed to
meet the demands. There are still good
many Hindoo coolies in South Africa, but
they haven't the physical strength for min
ing So they sent to China for coolies
made contracts with them, brought them
over in special steamers. and they nave
been proven very satisfactory.
at is impossible to introduce European
labor because white men Will not work
with colored men. and even IL they would II
would be necessary to pay everybody the
same wages: that is. the Kaffir wages would
have to be increased to the same amount
paid to white men or the latter must De re-
duced to level with the Kaffir. We have
a good deal of white labor already In the
mines skilled labor of superior class,
which Is paid from 81 to IS day.
1.-The Chinese contract laborers are kept
in compounds" continued Mr. Wiihahs-
'tstockades or Enclosures surrounded py
buildings which form wall. They I'VE IN
barracks. are well kept. well fed ana Wen
cared for and are allowed TO come ana go
outside of working hours upon permit Is
sued by the superintendent or foreman In
charge They are doing very well. the ex-
pertinent is satisfactory to both SIDES, ana.
although II Is entirely probable that there
have been individual cases Of brutality,
there has been a great deal of unjust mis-
representation. There Is no slavery IN
South Africa or anything like 1t. The coolies
live far better than they do at nome Ihey
have wholesome food and plenty OF IT.
which is matter of noicy. as we'll as hui
mainly on the part of the mine operators
because unless Chinaman is well fed ne
will not do much work They are Kept
quite as well as the Hindoo contract lao or
ers who were employed before them or the
native Kaffirs. and there was never any
complaint about their treatment"
Division of the Liberals.
OF course. the Opposition in the house
of parliament is nagging the new ministers
as much as possible and annoying them in
every way. The liberals are divided ON al
most every important question. Their ma
jority Is 80 large that it Is unwieldy, and
discipline Is impossible. particularly among
the new men. who have come IN without
any previous parliamentary experience. Inc
fact that their votes are not necessary TO
the government is great temptation for
new members to vote according to their In
dividual predictions.
The liberals are scattering the details
of the educational bill, concerning which L
wrote you the other day. They are split In
twain on the Irish question. The govern
ment, for example, is pledged for home
rule while a large and powerful faction,
under the leadership of Lord Rosebery, are
against what they call violent organic
changes" The opposition is divided in a
similar manner. and there is an active per-
sonal rivalry between Mr. Balfour, recently
prime minister. and Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain. the advocate of protection, as to which
shall be recognized as the leader of the NH
nority. Mr.. Chamberlain is not pressing his
hi R.A~ he or
tirely useless. but he is pushing himself
forward on all occasions and using every
opportunity to take the wind out or the
sails Of Mr.. Balfour and secure advantages
for himself. Balfour is committed to Cham
herlain's protection policy. but the public
do not believe he has any faith in it. Shortly
before the recent election when Mr.: Bal
four's hand was forced. he wrote Mr. Cham
berlain a letter in which he deplored the
friction over the tariff among his followers,
and said:
"Fiscal reform-that's what they call
Chamberlin's proposition for a protective
tariffs and must remain the first con-
structive work of the unionist party. The
objects of such reforms are to secure more
equal terms of competition for the British
trade and closer commercial union with the
colonies. While at present 1t is not neces-
sary to prescribe the exact methods where
by these objects may be obtained. 1t Is in
expedient to permit differences of opinion
regarding these methods to divide the
party. Though other means may be posi-
bic, the establishment of moderate gem
eral tariff on manufactured goods, not i'm
posed for the purpose of raising prices or
giving artificial protection against legiti-
mate competition, and the imposition of
small duty on foreign corn are not in prin-
ciple objectionable, and they should be
adopted If it can be shown to be necessary
for the attainment of the ends In view or
for the purpose of revenue"
Balfour and Chamberlain.
,hr{o too tV,IA If Nv
Chamberlain's protection policy. was accept
ed by both sides as committing Mr. Bal
four to it. and caused his defeat for re-
election to parliament, but, as I told you
the other day, one of his conservative col
leagues in safe district resigned In his
favor and he is now a member of the house.
and the nominal leader of the opposition.
But he Is by no means as active or en-
ergetic as Mr.. Chamberlain. The latter has
an ambition to be prime minister, and for
that reason. II he force himself to the
front and be recognized as the leader OF
the conservatives IN parliament, the king
Will naturally call upon him to come for
ward and form ministry when the liberals
are compelled to give up power. Then again
he wants to get the conservative minority
to commit themselves to fiscal reforms"
as they call 1t here. The word protection"
has too deep a significance and is never
used by the advocates of the policy for fear
OF frightening the old free traders The OPP
position call Mr.. Chamberlain a protection
list" In derision. and that is the worse thing
they say of him.
Mr.. Chamberlain intends to show the con-
sentative minority in parliament that he
is much ADLER leader than Mr.. Balfour
and that will not be difficult. The latter is
better adapted to defend a policy than to
attack 1t, while Mr.. Chamberlain is always
at his best when he is making an aRsres-
sive fight. No man in public life in England
today can match Mr.. Chamberlain. az a
fighter. In vigilance. in versatility, in ag-
gressiveness and determination he has no
equal. and he is merciless in his assaults