The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-07-31
EIGHTY PER CENT LAW CHANGED.


of clause exempting native born American citi-
zens from the provisions of the proposed law. In
order that there may be misunderstanding re-
gardlg the exact provisions of the proposed
eighty per cent law the Era publishes the pro-
posed law again. The words printed in capitals
being the change made in the wording of the law
before filing with the Secretary.
ACT.
nloyment Against NonCitizens of the United States
Arizona, and Provide Penalties and Punishment
for the Violation Thereof
Be enacted by the people of the State of Arizona:
SECTION L. Any company, corporation, partnership
association individual who is may hereafter become
employer of than five (5) workers at any
time the State of Arizona of kind class of
tsol per cent qualified electors OF native born citizens
the United States or some subdivision thereof
association individual their agent agents. found
be guilty misdemeanor and conviction thereof
shall be subject to fine of not less than one hundred
O0l dollars and imprisoned for not less than thirty
ship shall convection thereof lie subject to line of
ed for less than thirty lsO) days.
1t will be noticed by the reader that the
amendment inserted in the original draft exenpts
native born citizens of the United States from
meeting the requirements of the law Conse-
quently native born citizen could seek employ
ment in Arizona regardless of the eighty per cent
law but all persons who are native born, would
be required under this proposed law, to have the
following qualifications:
II. He must be a naturalized citizen of the
United States.
T. He must have resided within the State of
Arizona for period of twelve months last past.
g. He must be able to read the English Ian
guage and write his name
In brief the law proposes that hereafter all EN-
ployees in Arizona, other than native born Ameri-
can citizens must possess the qualifications of
elector OF Arizona before they will be accorded
the right Of earning livelihood
With the exemption of the native born
American citizen from the provisions of the bill,
the disastrous results, affecting every mining
center of the state, remain the same for the rea-
son that the native born American citizen is not
seeking employment in underground mines
neither is he seeking employment railroad
section gang.
If this absurdity and vicious measure is enact
ed eighty per cent of the men employed in the hot
slopes of mine; eighty per cent employed ON a
railroad section gang; and eighty per cent push
ing wheel barrow around the mouth of sui hur
smoking furnace, must be native born American
citizens, or must possess the qualifications of an
elector of the State of Arizona.
Under the provision of this bill the occupa-
ton must not necessarily be dangerous This bill
applies to all occupations and exposes the fallacy
of the argument in favor of the KINNEY bill
when it was stoutly maintained by the sponsors
that safety of lives in mines and sineters required
the enactment of that measure.
Under the provisions of the "eighty per cent |
law ten could not pick fruit in an orchard
unless eight of their number native born citi-
zens or qualified electors twenty could not
pick cotton in the fields of the Salt River valley
less sixteen of their number possessed the quali-
cations under this law, and of the five thousand |
employees in the Clifton Morenci district not less
than $500 would be standing around in idleness on
New Years day 1915.
This is disastrous blow aimed at the pros
perity and development of the state by the FEEDER
alton of Labor and the independent voters of the
state are asked to help deliver the blow. Ari-
iona would be years in recovering. Every indus
trial enterprise in the state would be crippled and
in some instances, beyond a doubt, mines and
shelters would be closed down. 1t is well known
fact to all, including members of the Federation
of Labor, that in the low grade copper districts
the strictest economy must be practiced to show a
profit. With the copper quotations at 10 cents per
pound there is more than one copper producer in
Arizona trembling the edge of financial disaster,
and any extraordinary increase in expense or cost
of operation, will mean a temporary, If not last
ing cessation of activities. 1t is an equally we'll /