Speech #570044693

It is well known that we have not enough native American seamen to man the Navy which we are building. We certainly will not add to the number of seamen of this country by opening the door for hordes of Chinamen who. as has been stated here on several occasions in different debates in this body. work for at most about onehalf what the American or Caucasian sailor is willing to work for. and unless we do something that will exclude this extremely cheap competition with the American sailor we will drive him from the high seas. we will drive him from the decks of our own vessels. and therefore deprive ourselves of a resource for manning our naval fleet with American seamen. The Chinaman can not be naturalized under existing law. he can not become a citizen of the United States. and in time of war when we want to draw upon our merchant marine for sailors. stokers. firemen. and oilers to man the battle ships and swift cruisers that we are building. we will find that we have none but Chinamen on the Pacific. at least unless we do something to prevent the influx of these Chinese competitors with the American sailor. The argument which is presented here. some telegrams received from shipowners. that this would paralyze the shipping industry on the Pacific. is one which I do not think is at all conclusive. although it may be plausible. because it is a fact. as far as I have been able to gather. that there is now only one important line of ships sailing from the Pacific coast to the Orient which employs Chinese sailors. If we put our stamp of reprobation upon the employment of Chinamen on board of our ships I take it that there will be no effort hereafter to put them into the service of our merchant marine and thatwe will hereafter have no difficulty. so far as the Pacific is concerned. in securing Caucasian sailors whenever they are needed. As it is now. if this amendment is adopted and this provision stricken from the bill. it will be notice to the world that the United States is ready to invite all the Asiatic cheap labor that chooses to come from the Asiatic shores on American ships to this country. It will drive out a great many American sailors who now have employment upon the various lines plying from the Pacific coast to Australia and to the Orient generally. and it Nill certainly have a most injurious effect upon the morale of the American sailor. We need. besides men before the mast. stokers and firemen. intelligent men. to run the engines in case of necessity. coal passers. and deck hands generally.