Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-10-16
Rrlstow and the labor Question

tor. For a number Of years he has
benet he editor Of the Journal. In
the issue Of that paper, under date
Of April Is, 1907, there is an editor
ial from Mr.. Bristow's pen under the
head of a Serious Issue" The edi-
torial in fun is as follows:
"The railroads are complaining be-
cause of their inability to secure
competent help in the technical
lines of their business. There is a
deficiency in the department of en-
cheering in almost every one of
the great railroad systems that is,
the railroads cannot secure capable,
educated men to fully meet the de-
mands of this branch of their bus
mess.
This is not only true as to rail
road business, but it is also true
in every line of industry. The house
wife complains because she cannot
get competent help to aid in her
work. The publisher complains Of
the difficulty in securing competent
men to help him in his business.
Railroad construction is impeded be-
cause men cannot be secured to do
the grading and the rougher and
harder work connected with railroad
building. The farmer complains be-
cause he cannot get men to handle
his farm crops, pillow the ground, cut
and take care of the hay, harvest
the wheat, etc.
"The wealth of this country would
increase far more rapidly if there
was a greater abundance of labor
ers. The wages might be reduced
along some lines occasionally, but
the complaint of those in charge of
industrial enterprises as well as ag-
riculture is not against prices paid
for wages so much as the utter in
ability to secure men to do the
work. In the face of this condi-
ton, we have laws excluding the
Chinese from our shores, and last
winter law was enacted against
japanese, laborers. We are keeping
men out Of this country who would
DO the very work that the people
are unable to have done. This limi
our production and reduces the az
gregate wealth Of the country.
Our natural resources are such
that if we had sufficient labor t.
develop them to their full capacity
hundreds of millions would be add
ed annually to our wealth. It i!
claimed that with this development
there would be overproduction ant
the market for our surplus woulc
suffer. 1t may be that this strin
gency In the labor market will pro
long the period of our prosperity
but the demand for the things W,
produce is so great that there i
more danger of other countries de
veloping thier resources and there
fore competing with us in a labo
far cheaper than ours and thus il
juring our commerce as well a
I'VE had better have a Chinama
developing our wealth than to hav
him developing the wealth of som
European nation or some of on
commercial rivals"
The above Is copied from tn
files of the State Historical Societ,
at Topeka.
The importation of Chinese an,
japanese is a national question AM
the Democratic national convention
at Denver adopted the following res
olution as a part of its platform:
1--WE favor full protection by bot
national and state governments,
within their respective spheres, Q
all foreigners residing in the Unite
States under treaty, but We are OF
T posed to the admission of Asiati
immigrants who cannot be amalgs
mated with our population or who's
presence among us would rails
race issue and involve US in dil
lomatic controversies with Orienta
powers"
The Republican national platform
Is silent upon the question.
Do you agree with Mr.. Bristow, Q
do you agree with the Democrats
If Mr.. Bristow Is elected to tn
: United States Senate, he will hav
a chance to vote for the ratification
: OF treaties admitting coolie labo
1 ers.
r Hugh P. Farrelly is the Democra
&c candidate for United States Sci
ator from Kansas. He approves tn
o Democratic platform. He oppose
n the admission Of Asiatics to on