Speech #560057072

It was (lone simply because the shibpuilders of the United States did not want competition. if he could do that. however. if there was any warrant of law or any authority from any source which authorized him to do that. he could equally as well have ordered that they should stop importing slave labor. but that he did not see fit to do. The property interests of the United States were the special interests which the President wished to guard and not the labor of the United States. Consequently alter our flag went up there were imported into Hawaii 37.010 contract laborers. who were bound to perform service under taskmasters who could decide whether they were sick or well enough to work during a certain number of years. These men can now come to the United States from Hawaii. The President did not see fit to protect the labor of the United States against this importation of contract laborers. but he did see fit to stop the registration of Hawaiian ships. Of course. Hawaii isa part of theUnited States under the provisions of this law. and these 37.000 Asiatic laborers can now come. without any hindrance whatever. to the United States. for under the provisions of this bill their contracts are declared null and void. and the United States is authorized to at once notify them of the termination of their contracts. So I see no reason why large numbers of these men shall not immediately come to our shores to compete with the laborers of this country. This doctrine of imperialism.