J.S. Burke, presser at Hemingray's is opposed to Chinese labor

MUNCIE WORMEN WILL FIGHT

ADMISSION OF THE CHINESE

Local Union, No. 23, of the

A. F. G. W. U., Appointed a

Committee Sunday to

Pre­pare a Petition to Congress

Threatened Invasion of the

United States By Coolies

Meets With Strong

Objec­tions From Muncie Men

Local Union, No. 23, of the A. F. G. W. U. held a meeting in Union Labor hall, Sunday morning, to discuss ways and means for meeting the threatened admission of Chinese labor into the United States, at the expiration of the Geary exclusion law.

A committee was apointed [sic] appointed at this meeting to confer with the representatives of all locals of unions in Muncie for the purpose of framing some measure that, in the opinion of the joint committee, would be suitable to introduce in the United States Senate as a bill re-enacting the provisions of the Geary law. The committee is com­posed of John Dodd, Harry Norman and James Burke.

The measure framed will be sent to Senators Beveridge and Fairbanks at Washington, with the request that it be in substance, introduced in the senate, as a bill.

From the expressions heard in regard to the matter, it is evident that the citizens or Muncie are in favor of holding a mass meeting to discuss the question of exclusion. The sentiment with reference to such a meeting is almost unanimously in favor of it.

B. W. M'GINNIS, President of Typo-graphical Union;

"What the Polocks and Hungarians are to the American laborer in the iron mills of Indiana, the Chinese are to the farms and to the mines of the west. They can afford to work for low wages because they live on one meal a day and work from sunrise to sunset. The people of Muncie do not know the Chinese coolie. They have had to deal with only a few Chinese, and they of the better class. Having spent about eight years in the west I know whereof I speak."

FRANK LAFFERTY, Member of the City Council:

"The exclusion act should certainly be re-enacted. One needs only to look at western conditions to be convinced. The only good thing about the Chinaman is that he won't work with machinery. Their introduction means the ruination of our labor.'

MAYOR EDWARD TUHEY:

"I think the law should surely be re-enacted, or a better one framed. I would favor a mass meeting of Muncie citizens to discuss the matter."

WILLIAM RICKS, President of State Mail Carriers Association:

"I think that under the present laws of the country no people of any nation should be refused immigration privileges. I approve of holding a mass meet­ing to discuss the question."

GEORGE GELTZ:

"I think the present laws should be re-enacted and made more stringent if necessary. A repeal of the law would mean a cheapening of American labor."

FRANK C. BALL, Manufacturer:

"All cheap labor by foreigners is det­rimental. Such competition inevitably lowers wages and all classes are affected. Chinese labor would undermine American industry completely. Con­gress should keep up the bars as they are at present."

SAMUEL CASHMORE, Superintendent of Police, a former Iron worker:\

"I have spent some time on the west­ern coast, where the Chinese are most numerous. There is no reason to fear their invasion of the iron industries, but the working girls of California and Oregon have suffered on their account. There should be no relaxation of the exclusion law, for we have no use for this class of people. They bring noth­ing of benefit to the country with them. Our boys and girls can never compete with that class of labor, and our law makers should protect them.

GEORGE DERRICK, Labor Organizer:

"Capital would gladly bring in cheap labor to displace our own Americans, but congress should not permit it. Our country is flooded with this cheap labor, and, without laws to protect the workingman, he soon would be on a level with the heathen workmen who can live as we can not. The cigar makers' baker unions trade are already infected with the Chinese. We should permit no relaxation of the present laws."

LEOPOLD MAMBOURG, Glass Manufacturer:

"The window glass workers are not much alarmed for fear that Chinamen will invade their trade, but they are by no means a popular set with our men. As badly as window glass blowers are needed, a Chinese blower would not be employed."

OTTO SELLERS, Steel Worker:

"The laws can not be made too stringent against those almond-eyed indi­viduals and the whole bunch should be 'tin-canned' out of the country, with some other foreigners."

GEORGE CARNES, Midland Roller:

"If congress gives those fellows any more rope the Chinese exclusion law should be made the issue at the next election and every member of congress given orders to 'go 'way back and sit down.' If the Chinamen were forced to work in the iron and steel mills, they would steer clear of the country. I should say they are bad ones."

J. S BURKE, Presser at Hemingray's Glass Factory:

"I am very much opposed to the ad­mission of Chinese labor into the United States, it would mean the ruin of American labor. I am in favor of a mass meeting to discuss the matter. The members of Local No. 23, A, F. G. W. U., of which I am a member, are aroused."

DAVID JONES, Glassworker:

"There 1is no argument in the proposition. and our law makers are familiar with the curse this class of men breed in this great country of ours. I feel that the right thing will be done on the proposition at the right time."

CASPER OREBAUGH, Secretary of Trades Council and President of Street Railway Union:

"I am in favor of the re-enactment of the immigration laws, and such laws should be so widened as to apply to Japanese and other Asiatic laborers equally objectionable. As their unrestricted immigration would work a great injury to our country and people as a whole, by reason of the competition to which they would be subjected and the lower standard of living to which they would be reduced, the present policy should be maintained to promote the general welfare and insure a greater degree of peace and good order to ourselves and our prosperity than would otherwise be possible."