Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-06
REPUBLICANS AND LABOR.
Facts About the Abrogation of the
Chinese Exclusion Act.

Facts About the Abrogation of the
Chinese Exclusion Act.
In view Of the recent announcement
that the administration has decided to
Import Chinese labor for the construc-
ton Of the Panama canal in opposition
to the protests of organized labor, it is
important to remember the attitude of
the Republicans in congress toward the
scheme. On the Goth of last January
the house of representatives adopted
the following amendment to the urgent
deficiency bill:
THAT the provisions Of the act ell
titled AN act relating to the Limitation
Of the hours of daily service of laborers
and mechanics employed upon the pub
lie works of the United States and Of
the District Of Columbia, approved
Aug. l, 1892 shall not apply to alien
laborers employed in the construction
Of the isthmian canal within the canal
zone"
This measure was adopted upon the
suggestion of Chairman Shonts of the
canal commission that labor on the
isthmus should be excluded from the
application of the eight hour law, the
contract labor law and the Chinese ex-
clusion act" 1t was also stated on the
floor of the house that Secretary Taft
approved the measure.
The Democrats opposed it unani.
mously, but it was pushed through by
means of a resolution suspending the
rule against new legislation on appro.
priation bills. The Democrats, notably
Williams, Clark of Missouri, McNary
and Fitzgerald, pointed out that II
would abrogate the Chinese exclusion
act and the contract labor law, but
this was denied by the Republicans.
In the limited debate that was al
lowed the following %colloquies occur
red:
Mr.. McNary-I should like to ask thu
gentleman (Mr. Littauer) whether be
hind all this idea of doing away will
the eight hour law there is not the pur
pose Of employing Chinese cody labo,
to build the canal?
Mr.. Littauer-The Chinese exclusio,
act controls that. This amendment ha,
no relation to Chinese labor.
MI. Clark of Missouri-Is not tn,
very same force that is back of the re
peal Of this eight hour law, as to tn
aliens, also in favor of the PROPOSE
ton Of repeating the Chinese exclusion
law If 1t extends to the isthmus Q
Panama-to repeal that clause SO tina
Chinese and Japs can come in an,
work there?
Mr.. Tawney-1 will say to the gentle
man from Missouri (Mr. Clark tina
the eight hour law vas construed b
the attorney general to be applicabl
to the canal zone, although there wa
no legislation on the subject. Upo
the same ground the Chinese exclusio
act would no doubt be held to apply.
Not a single Republican admitted
the debate that the measure would a
feet the Chinese exclusion act or til
allen contract labor law, though the
all knew that it did affect both; that
was intended to carry out the suggeI
ton of Mr.. Shonts. And now the az
ministration has construed the act a,
cordfng to the Shonts theory. 1t ha
made arrangements to bring in cool
labor under contract with Marchan
the French trader in cody slaves, 6
we'll as to compel laborers to work ov
eight hours a day The wretche
double dealing Of the Republican lea,
ers was never more conspicuous. Thos
among them who usually manage til
party affairs In congressional can
paigns tried to keep as much in IL
background as possible. Babcoc]
Sherman, Oyerstreet, Jenkins, Crun
packer, Hit and others of that elias
were paired in favor Of the amen,
ment, but did not vote. Cooper of Wi
consin voted for the consideration of
and then voted against it. These fac
show insincerity on their part, as we
as fear of the consequences.