Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-07
Bamboozling the
People

NOf|AN~
President Coolidge's excuse
for signing the immigration bill
is termed an attempt to BAN
boozle the people" by Oswald
Garrison Willard, editor of The
Nation, in the following COM
ment:
The Presidents signature to
the abominable immigration bill
does not surprise US. A Grover
Cleveland would have sent it
back with a message to stir the
country. Instead, Mr.. Coolidge
utters this incredible nonsense:
/ gladly recognize that the en-
actment of this provision does
not imply any change in our
sentiment of admiration and COR
dial friendship for the japanese
people, a sentiment which has
had and will continue to have
abundant manifestation.
Then he declares that he
would have vetoed the exclusion
provision had it been embodied
in a separate bill At the same
time he says "there is scarcely
any ground for disagreement as
to the result We want, but this
method of securing it is unnec-
essary and deplorable at this
ki,,oa - Y1Tae than. a.,a,. ,,ao,.a
muddle-headedness, or baser
attempt to straddle an issue, or
more obvious attempt to bam-
boozle a people? Even the
argument that he must sign the
bill because there must be some
general immigration legislation
falls to the ground. A nan of
real force and courage would
have sent this bill back and, if it
Were not passed over his veto,
would have kept Congress in ses-
sion until it passed a decent meas
ure.
The Japanese exclusion fea-
ture of the immigration bill was
one of the most foolish, one
of the least called-for actions of
a Congress noted 70 the foolish
ness of many of its acts. The
same end could have been OBJ
tanned in an entirely satsifac-
tory agreement between the
State Departments of the two
nations.
Our farmers, from the Pacific
to the Atlantic and from Can.
ada's borders to the gulf, are
suffering financial losses great
er than in many a year largely
because of IA lack OF markets FOL
their products.
Particularly is this true in tn,
South. Were the markets o
the world open and worlc
finances normal. cotton wouIc
be bringing half a dollar /;
pound.
Japan is an IMPORTING ma
ton. 1t cannot produce suffi
Gent food for its millions. Th'
Jap is a good customer, reliabl,
and steady.
With the exception of Grea
Britain and the United States
Japan consumes more cottor
than any other country in tn,
world. According to tn,
Manufacturers Record Blu,
Book, world consumption o
cotton in lo22-1923 vas
United States 1922, 900 bales
Great Britain ....2,770,000 bales
Japan -....-........,.2,576,000 bales
Why Intentionally antagoniz,
one of our best customers wher
the same could be gained with
out causing unfriendly feeling,
between the two countries.
In conclusion Editor Villarc
says the bill strikes a deadl,
blow at the peace of the Pa
cific, that it
Tmperils many of the gains of
the Washington Conference, in
suits needlessIy a proud, high
spirited people, and provides the
excuse for a league of yellow peo-
pies against the white. The
natural step now would be the
withdrawal of every American
missionary from China and ia
pan. For them to remain there
would stamp us guilty of the
basest hypocrisy. Love thy
neighbor as myself" Yes, but
don't let him come near you!