The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-09-04
THE FLAG AND EIGHTY PER CENT.

The banner is artistic in design and bears
an American flag at the top, underneath which i
inscribed, Eighty Per Cent, and underneath tina
inscription is another ''Look for the LABEL fol
lowed by the National Bartenders insignia The
inscription on the flag banner Eighty Per Cent,
may be taken to indicate that the members of the
Bartenders' Union of Clifton, in conjunction with
all locals in the state, in favor of the passage
of the proposed eighty per cent" law, initiated
by the State Federation of Labor, and which will
appear the ballot at the general election in
November. 1t may also be reasonably presumed
that most members of labor unions in the State are
in favor OF the passage of this law,as it drafted
at a convention of delegates from labor unions of
all kinds at Phoenix. In addition to having the
support of union laborites the initiative measure
has the endorsement of the Socialist party of the
state as represented in convention at Phoenix at
the time the proposed law was advocated.
The eighty per cent law which provides that
hereafter in Arizona where more than five persons
of either sex are employed IN ANY OCCUPA-
TON eighty per cent of that number must be
native born citizens or qualified electors of the
state OF Arizona 1t has been initiated by the labor
organizations of the state, with the ar
gulment prepared by them, that such a measure is.
for the protection of American citizen labor
against the foreigner.
The Era has had occasion in the past to op-
pose this measure and shall continue to oppose it
until the day of the election, well aware of the
TACT that the measure is receiving temporary sup
port and endorsement from a great many sources,
other than labor organizations ard the Socialist
party. The editor of the Era is not prone to
stampede with a seeming majority any vital
questions but rather, it is the duty of fearIessly
conducted newspaper, to point out to its readers
the dangers and the disastrous results of i'll advised
legislation, regardless of whether that proposed
measure is the recipient of popular or unpopular
public opinion at the time it first proposed
We desire the editorial position of the Era
on this important measure clearly understood We
MAINTAIN that if the time has arrived in this coun-
try when the foreign immigrant labor is menace
to American labor that the proper way to proceed /
to correction of that evil is THROUGH MORE /
STRICT AND DRASTIC NATIONAL INGMI- /
GRAFTON LAWS, even to the extent of period Il
OF absolute exclusion of further Immigrant labor
ers. We say, that if the time has arrived in this
country, for the protection of American citizen [
ship labor, that the correction should be made
at the source OF the evil and that this is ques-
ton for proper consideration and Investigation
by our Congressman and Senators. We further +
MAINTAIN that foreign 1aborers now in this coun- =
try have been admitted under treaties with "
foreign countries, and under our Immigration +
laws, as we have made them ourselves THESE :
FOREIGN LABORERS HAVE A RIGHT IN Il
THIS COUNTRY. They are guaranteed the 7
same protection our own citizens from violence =
Io
and we make the statement now, without fear of IL
contradiction, that the eighty per cent law if .
passed by the voters of Arizona will never stand IV
ne legal test before the Supreme Court of Ahe b
United States.
To our mind the eighty per cent law is t.
ank injustice to that element of population c
Vho nave been admitted to this country under our ST
avs and who have come here under the guaran- ST
ee that SO long they law-abidng and peace &C
Die that they shall have right in this country til
earn livelihood for themselves and their fami- ia
es The method proposed by the "eighty per N
ent law IS THE WRONG METHOD to cure in
n alleged evil Further, the proposed law will be
end to harrass and cripple the chief industry of
lis state This industry Ginning and smelting)
now undergoing a severe strain, almost to the
clnt OF abandonment of operations, and any W,
rtler difficulties put in fhe way of their operation de
Ill IN Our opinion result dsastrously everybody sh
oncerned. =
There is not member of congress from Ari- on
INA who cannot be depended upon to work and de
ote in our national law making BODY for thos ed