The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-16
Oenounces Employment of
Chinese on Canal Work.
LABOR LEADER WRATHY
Secretary Taft Must Approve All Con-
tracts, Thus Foresta!Ing Labor
Sharks Who Would Prey
Upon CeIestials.

Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, has is.
sued a statement regarding the &C,
tion Of the isthmian canal commission,
deciding to work Chinese laborers on
the canal. The statement is as fol.
lows:
1T seems that those in charge of
the Panama canal construction have
regard for neither law nor principles.
First, in the most extraordinary man.
ner the eight-hour law is annulled in
the greatest public work ever under
taken by the government, under the
pretense that conditions there are diff
ferent than in the United States. It
must appeal to the veriest tyro that
if eight hours work is regarded as
sufficient in the comparatively temper
ate zone of the United States, cer-
tainly ten, eleven and even more
hours of labor day in the pesti-
lential and miasmatic atmosphere Of
the Panama zone are not only I'M.
proper, but outrageous and brutal.
1.-THE existing law excludes Chinese
laborers and coolies from the United
States or any of it's possessions. The
Panama canal zone is an American
possession, and it Is as much a viola.
ton of the law to bring Chinese COO
lies there as it is in other portions
Of our country.
Some time ago, in an interview
had with Chairman Shonts. pro-
tested against the employment of Chi.
nese coolies in the Panama canal con-
struction. He emphatically stated that
it was not the intention then to en-
ploy Chinese coolies, and they would
not be employed under his admins.
tration."
A Washington special says: Care
will be taken by the United States
government to p,<vent contractors
from doing injustice to the Chinese
laborers employed for work on the
Panama canal. The specifications ad-
vertising for proposals to supply $500
Chinese to the canal commission,
will stipulate that the secretary Of.
war shall have the privilege Of pass
ing on contracts which labor agents
make with the Chinese who are to
be sent to the isthmus.
This provision will make it possible
for Secretary Taft to prevent discrim-
ination against the coolies by the un.
scrupulous contractors. Under this
arrangement the U::ted States will
know exactly what the Chinese are
paid by the labor agents and the
Chinese government will be able to
afford it's subjects protection on the
isthmus because of the ease with
which this government will be able
to regulate the relations between the
Chimes laborers AND the contractors.
Many contractors are seeking to
supply the first $500 Chinese for the
canal work. Unit. the specifications
for the contracts are published, con-
tractors vii. not be able to give any
idea as to the wage they must have
for Chinese labore1s on the canal
zone. Some labor agents believe that
with the many restrictions the canal
commission purposes placing upon
contractors it will not be possible to
supply the Cinnamon at less than
81 a day. Other agents are of the
opinion that the coolies can be sup
piled for so or so cents day, with
a fair margin of profit to the con-
tractors.
In Jamaica, West Indians are EN-
ployed under long time contracts at
prices ranging from Is cents a day
and rations, which cost only a few
cents to so cents day.
Restrictions and safeguards thrown
about these laborers, however, are
very slight, as compared with the re-
strictions the United States will place
UPON the Chinese to be employed for
40 mol work