The San Francisco call. [volume], November 22, 1901, Page 1, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME XC-NO. 175.
CHINESE EXCLUSION CONVENTION OPENS
FIGHT IN DEFENSE OF AMERICAN LABOR
PRESIDENT WILL URGE RE-ENACTMENT OF EXCLUSION LAW.
D. C, Nov. 21, 1901. — Hon. James D. Phelan, San Francisco, Cal.; I have seen the President. I have the best authority for saying that he will not only recom
mend in his message the re-enactment of the Geary law, but will go further and urge that it be made stronger. J, c. NEEDHAM.
CHINESE QUESTION ONE OF" RACE
TyTy E are the warders of the Golden Gate; we must stand
y y here forever in the pathway of the Orient, and if there
is any danger or trial it is for us to sound the alarm.
I regard the Chinese question as a race question. I regard
it as an international question; and above and over all, a
question involving the preservation of our civilisation. The State
of California, with its sezrn hundred miles of seaboard facing
the Orient, is entitled to speak on this question for tlie people of
the United States. — Excerpt from Mayor James D. Phelan' s ad
dress at the Chinese Exclusion Convention.
Leading Citizens Gather to Urge
Re-enactment of the
Geary Law.
IT was a distinctly representative
gathering of business, professional
and laboring men that packed Metro
politan Temple yesterday afternoon
when Mayor Phelan called the Chi
nese Exclusion Convention to order.
Xearly every seat in the large auditorium
•was taken, the lower floor being devoted
to the use of the delegates from all parts
of California, while the gallery was given
up to the general public. All present
seemed to be animated by one impulse,
that of doing their utmost to secure the
re-enactment of the Chinese exclusion act
and thereby prevent the threatened In
vasion of Mongol horclee to the peril and
degradation of American labor.
The gathering was of that character
which lends weight to any public move
ment and the conclusions of which are ac
corded respectful consideration In legisla
tive halls. The convention was not the
outgrowth of political or partisan senti
ment, but of the fear of the people of the
State that the danger which menaces
their advancement and prosperity might,
unless strong measures were taken, be
actually realized. In order that the peo
ple of the East might understand how
the communities on the "Western confines
of the continent feel concerning the un
restricted immigration of Chinese into
their midst, the convention was decided
upon, and it is needless to say that the
memorial which is to be adopted to-day
will prove to be an unanswerable argu
ment to those of the East, who, without
the slightest knowledge of the blight-
Borne characteristics of the Chinese, have
df-clared open sympathy for the coolie
hordes which are only awaiting the ex
piration of the exclusion act in May next
SENATOR PERKINS WOULD CO FURTHER.
/T is our people who pay the taxes that have built up our splendid institutions, and we should
draw the line furtJter, only this is not the time nor occasion. I would permit no one to come into
this country unless he felt as he approaches these shores as Moses did when he approached the
burning bush — that he stood upon sacred ground; and the voice coming out of that bush from the
American people is "Unless you love freedom, unless you believe in republican institutions, unless you
believe in the free public schools, you cannot come into this country." — Excerpt from Senator Perkins'
address before the Chinese Exclusion Convention.
The San Francisco Call.
In order that they may without molesta
tion invade the United States.
Convention Begins Crusade.
Of the 3000 accredited delegates fr*m all
parts of California fully 2500 were present
at 2:15 o'clock when Mayor Phelan rapped
for order. The hall presented a scene of
animation, which the hearty enthusiasm
of the delegates as well as spectators
served to heighten. The hall was deco
rated with the national colors, while over
the platform was suspended a large sign
bearing the words, "Chinese Exclusion
Convention. For Country, Home and
Civilization." Pinned to the lapels of the
coats of the delegates were badges of
white silk suitably inscribed. Side by side
with the farmer sat representatives of
State, national and county governments,
all animated by the one great desire to
protect American labor against the Orien
tal competition which must inevitably fol
low the refusal of Congress to re-enact
the Chinese exclusion law. On the stage
were Mayor Phelan, Mayor N. P. Snyder
of Los Angeles, Senator George C. Per
kins, Lieutenant Governor Jacob H. Neff,
Congressman Frank Coombs, Rev. Wil
liam Rader, Assistant United States Dis
trict Attorney D. E. McKinlay, ex-Sena
tor A. P. Williams, Congressman S. D.
Woods, A. Sbarboro, president of the
Manufacturers' and Producers' Associa
tion; Supervisors J. P. Booth, L. J.
Dwyer, Samuel Braunhart, Charles Box
ton. Supervisor-Elect William Wynn, H.
A. ilcCraney and others.
The issues of the hour were presented
by Mayor Phelan in a strong opening ad
dress. He was received with warmth and
his allusions to the determined stand
taken by California on the Chinese ques
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1901.
MAYOR JAMES D. PHELAN ADDRESSING THE DELEGATES TO THE
BIG CHINESE EXCLUSION CONVENTION, WHICH HELD ITS INI
TIAL SESSION YESTERDAY AF TERNOON
I
tion were loudly applauded. The people
of this State, he said, had a right to speak"
for the people of the entire union. He
aroused enthusiasm by a vigorous denial
of the story that the sentiment of the
residents of California concerning Chinese
immigration had changed. Were it pos
sible that advantages might be gained by
the peneral admission of Chinese into the
United States the people of California and
of the Pacific Coast would be the first to
recognize and advocate them. The Mayor
declared that the question was a national
one and that the whole people should rise
up against the danger of a Mongol inva
sion.
Geary Chosen as Chairman.
The convention begin business without
delay after the Mayor had finished his
address. The matter of selecting a
chairman was brought up, and Thomas J.
Geary, author of the Chinese Exclusion
Act, was placed in nomination amid a
considerable display of enthusiams. The
name of Mayor Snyder of Los Angeles
was advanced for tho. honor, but that
gentleman respectfully declined, and took
occasion to second Geary's nomination
Mayor Phelan was also placed in nomina
tion, but declined the honor with thanks
Geary was then chosen by acclamation,
and when he advanced to the platform he
was given a hearty ovation. In his speech
of acceptance he referred to the anti-
Chinese exclusion sentiment prevalent in
the East, and expressed the conviction
that the convention would do much to re
move the erroneous impressions concern
ing the Chinese which had been formed
in the territory east of the Rocky Moun
tains. His reference to the strong atti
tude of President Roosevelt in the mat
ter of the re-enactment was hailed with
wild cheers, and cries of "Good bey.
Teddy!" He held that the advancement
of American comraerco was subsidiary to
the advancement of tne welfare of Am
erican labor. The fundamental princlp'e,
he argued, should be recognized that
without labor there could be no com
merce.
Temporary Organization Perfected.
At the conclusion of Chairman Geary's
address, the work of temporary organi
zation was begun. The idea seemed to
prevail among a portion of the conven
tion that politics backed the exclusion
movement, and when H. S. Mason was
placed in nomination for temporary sec
retary, Charles B. gchaeffer of Santa
CHINATOWN'S
REMOVAL IS
ADVOCATED
taxpayers of this
j£ city will soon be called
upon to vote millions
of dollars for schools, hos
pitals and other improvements.
Gentlemen, there is no better
ment that this city can pro
cure which is more an urgent
necessity than the removal of
Chinatown to the southern end
of San Francisco. — Excerpt
from B. Sbarboro' s' address
before the Chinese Exclusion
Convention.
Clara was nominated in opposition. In
order to prevent an election which must
have engendered feeling and cause an
unnecessary waste of time, the election
of both as secretaries was ageed to. A
committee of five on credentials was
then appointed after numerous motions
were made and amendments offered. The
committee '.on credentials retired and
after some minutes retorted in favor of
adopting the list of 3100 names in the
hands of the secretaries. The report wa3
adopted unanimously.
Senator Perkins was then introduced,
and in a brief address he expressed his
gratification at the patriotism displayed
by all classes of citizens of California in
the matter of the exclusion law. The
failure of Congress to re-enact the law
Continued on Page Two.
FRANK L. COOMBS VOICES HIS PROTEST.
A S I understand it, it is because we hare thought that there might prevail in the East some
idea or suspicion that the people of this country zvere not united as they zvere ten years ago
that we have called this convention. And it is your office nozv, echoing the voice, the
sentiment and the majesty of the people of this State, to send in clarion tones to the capital of the
nation your protest, as it zvas your protest of old, against the admission of Chinese further into the
State of California and into the nation. — Excerpt from Congressman Frank L. Coombs' address be
fore the Chinese Exclusion Convention.
WILL REMOVE ERRONEOUS IDEAS
r i HIS convention, meeting at this peculiar time, is to my
J_ mind the most potent instrument that could have been
chosen to manifest to the people of the East that the story
that California has changed her mind upon the question of
Asiatic immigration is at least erroneous, if not absolutely false.
California, through this convention, will tell the people of the East
that she is as loyal as she ever was to her laboring population,
and as determined as ever to protect them against the cheap man
from the East. — Excerpt from Chairman Thomas J. Geary's ad
dress at the Chinese Exclusion Convention.
Strong Addresses in Behalf of the
Laboring People of the
Coast.
WHEN Mayor Phelan called
the Chinese Exclusion Con
vention to order yesterday
afternoon every seat in the
body of the hall and in the
gallery was occupied by dele
gates and spectators.
After calling the convention to order
Mayor Phelan delivered the following ad
dress:
Personnel of Convention.
Fellow Citizens of the State of California:
It 14 my honor as Mayor of this city, pursuant
to & resolution of the Board of Supervisors,
to call this convention to order. It is made up
of our Senators and Representatives in Con
gress, the officials of the State, the counties
and cities of California, of the labor and
trades organizations and of civic society. This
is, in the Judgment of the Board of Supervis
ors, called a representative body, a body
which, when it speaks, will be listened to with
consideration and respect.
The State of California, with its seven hun
dred miles of seaboard fronting tha Pacific,
facing the Orient, is entitled to speak on this
question for the people of the United States.
(Applause.) We may speak, as it were, as
experts. We have had a long familiarity with
this question, and I contend that it is only
those who are ignorant of its true meaning
and significance who would hesitate to Indorse
the position which California has always taken
as a steadfast and patriotic opponent to the
further immigration of Chinese coolies.
It has been said in the East, where a propa
ganda against the re-enactment of the exclu
sion laws has been carried on, that the senti
ment of the country has changed; that even in
California, where, by the way, the Chinese
population, due to the beneficent effect of ex
clusion, has fallen from 76.000, acording to the
census returns in the year IS9O. to about 46.000
in 1900, it has been said that on that account
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
and on account of the opening, as It were, of
the Pacific by the victory of Dewey at Manila
Bay (Applause) that the people of the State
of California have also changed their views;
in other words, that the proponents of Chi
nese immigration have- taken advantage of
the effect of the exclusion law and of the in
terest that we all have in the opening of the i
Pacific, to insidiously, with the assistance of
the Imperial Minister of China at Washing
ton, Minister Wu, and the Imperial Consul
General at San Francisco, Mr. Ho Tow,
impress upon the minds of our Congressmen
and of our editors throughout the broad ex
tent of country ea3t of the Mississippi that it
would be diplomatic, that it would be la tho
substantial interests of this country, and
would be conducive to greater trade to let th«
exclusion act, which has been In force for
twenty years, die by legal expiration. When
we in San Francisco observed that a system
atic campaign was being made for the purpose
of undoing all the work for which w» had
straggled for twenty years, we deemed It nec
essary to call this convention; and I am sure
that none of you will resent the fact that 3*n
Francisco, your commercial emporluci, ha*
taken the leadership In this matter.
Our Commercial Emporium.
San Francisco is a commercial emporium.
It is like all commercial cities, perhaps, when
it comes to a matter of trade, unsentimental:
and it must impress Itself upon the people of
the East that if there is any advantage in
.Chinese Immigration we would not oppose It.
If it brought commerce to our warehouses and
to our marts there would be a very considera
ble element of our population thac would be
active In the demand which every commer
cial city makes for trade and more trade.
(Applause.) Therefore, I say, when San Fran
cisco takes a stand as it took twenty years
Continued on Page Two.