The San Francisco call. [volume], November 23, 1901, Page 1, Image 1

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

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VOLUME XC— NO. 176.
CHINESE EXCLUSION CONVENTION
COMES TO A MOST BRILLIANT CLOSE
LOVES THE GOLDEN STATE.
IF to* think that this delegation is going back: *n Washing
ton to meet a Waterloo you do not know the delegation. Why,
every mother and every daughter of California is involved In
this battle. And do you thick that such men as we are,
knowing that this conflict Is for the mothers and daughters and
the children of California, will ever give up this battle? Trie*
of "\o. no/*) I say to you, men, I know what honorable impulses
brought yon here, and if there is any man who has come to this
convention with anything in bin heart but a love for California
let him "go *way back and tilt down." I will tell you how I feel
abont this. If I knew that my resignation would bring about the
passage of this bill I would write the telegram on this denk and
send It to the Governor thin minute In order to make California
free from this possible enme. And tlint In how I love her.
(Ckeert.)— Excerpt from speech by Congressman Woods at Chinese
Exclusion Convention.
STRONG SPEECHES
TO THE DELEGATES
Sentiments Favoring Protection to
American Labor Are Wildly
Cheered.
THE Chinese Exclusion Convention
completed its labor? yesterday
after the adoption of one <>f the
most important as well as vipor
ous memorials on the Chinese
question ever addressed to the
President and Congress of the United
Elates. The attitude of the people of Cal
ifornia and of the entire Pacific Coast to
ward the problem of unrestricted immi
gration of Asiatics to these shores as rep
resented in the convention was distinctly
outlined, and its language cannot fail to
he understood in the East as being the
Fpontaneous outburst of a united people
n the imposition upon them i f a
grievous wrong.
The delegates gathered in force yester
day morning and listened with enthusi
asm to many speakers. Only one theme
was discuss-ei, only one idea advanced,
namely, unalterable resistance to the pro
ject of unrestricted Chinese immigration
to America. Tie danger of a Mongolian
invasion In the event of the refusal of
. :ess to re-enact the exclusion law
wae pointed out in forceful language by
all the speakers. The delegates choc-reel
heartily at every patriotic sentiment
voiced by the orators, and particularly
when the necessity o* protecting Ameri
can labor against foreign competition was
urged. The members of the convention
.6howed by their zeal t^at they were in
accord with the speakers, whose senti
ments they cordially indo-f>ed.
The report of the comir.ittee on perma
nent organization was tae first matter
to engage the attention of the delegates
et the morning session. The recommen
dation that the temporary officers be
made permanent was adopted amid
cheers. It was expected that the memo
l rial committee would be abl* to file its
report, but the announcement by Chair
man Geary that further time was re-
Quired by the cotimittee resulted in the
desired action beltg taken. There being
sm> definite bufiinesi before the convention,
The San Francisco Call.
speechmaking was indulged in. Assistant
Tnii^rj States District Attorney Duncan
E. McKinlay was introduced by the chair,
and that gentleman delivered an able ad
dress in which he reviewed the Chinese
question from the standpoint of the Dis
trict Attorney's office. The legal aspects
of the issue were capably presented, the
peakcr's remarks at times evoking
hearty applause. So favorably did he im
press his hearers that at the close of his
speech he was honored by a Tote of
thanks for his brilliant oratorical effort.
The Rev. Dr. William Rader followed
with a witty address, in which he re
viewed the Chinese question from the
standpoint of morality and religion. His
allusions to the vices prevailing in San
Francisco's Chinatown, and of their ef
fect upon the whole community, were im
pressively advanced, and his remark that
the proper place in which to Christianize
the Chinese was in China and not in this
country, evoked cheers. The address
was replete with statistical information,
and it was listened to with profound in
terest by all present.
Congressman Woods carried away the
banner by a characteristic speech in
which he informed the convention "that
with its assistance all h— l couldn't beat
the exclusion law." Woods was in deep
earnest, and all his utterances were ac
companied by vigorous gestures and a
beating of the rostrum with a vigor that
threatened to convert it into kindling
wood. He assured the convention that
the California delegation in Congress
would never give up the exclusion fight,
and when he sought to close what he
termed his "razzle-dazzle" address, the
crowd yelled lustily for more. Woods
obliged the delegates further, and when
he concluded the delegates gave him three
hearty cheers.
The closing address of the morning ses
sion was by Mayor Snyder of Los An
geles. During the afternoon the repre
sentatives of various labor organizations
SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1901.
CONGRESSMAN WOODS ADDRESSING THE DELEGATES TO THE GREAT CHINESE EXCLUSION CONVENTION.
HIS FERVID REMARKS RAISED THE MEMBERS TO A HIGH PITCH OF ENTHUSIASM AND THEY
CHEERED HIM VOCIFEROUSLY THROUGHOUT HIS ABLE AND ELOQUENT SPEECH.
RE-ENACTMENT OF THE EXCLUSION
LAW IS DEMANDED BY CONVENTION
J yf / HERE AS , The Chinese exclusion act, known as the "Geary law," will expire by limitation
py May 24, 1902; and
Whereas, The treaty betzveen this country and China concerning the restriction of
immigration from the latter nation may, under its provisions, expire on March j, 1904; and
Whereas, The roils that produced the necessity for the enactment of the present exclusion lazy,
and the making of the present treaty with China, still exist in our midst, and dangers therefrom are
as imminent nozv as they were when the present barrriers zvere established; and
Whereas, Unless such barriers are maintained and vigorously guarded the invasion of
Chinese laborers, thereby checked, zvill expose our people to a renewal thereof, with all its influences
inimical to the interest of our zvage-earncrs and injurious to the general zvelfare; and
Whereas, The beneficial results flozving from the operation of the said act have met the expec
tations of the people in avoiding an increase of Chinese immigration and an aggravation of the many
ez'ils thereof, therefore be it
Resolved, By the Chinese Exclusion Convention of the State of California, composed of three
thousand delegates representing the State, county and city governments and industrial and civic or
ganisations in all parts of the State,
First — That we demand the continuance of existing treaties ziith China and the re-enactment
of the "Geary exclusion law" ,
Second — That we recommend that the California delegation in Congress act unitedly in the
presentation of the bill to accomplish the purpose hereinbefore set forth and use their utmost endeavor
to secure its immediate enactment into lazy.
delivered brief addresses. Dr. William
son, president of the Board of Health,
talked, of the Chinese curse in San
Francisco and frequently evoked ap
plause. Mr. Taylor of the State
Grange spoke in behalf ef the farmers
of California, and in a logical speech
showed the evil effects unrestricted im
migration of Chinese to California, would
exert upon rural pursuits in this State.
The main event of the afternoon session
was the reading and adoption of the me
morial to President Roosevelt and to
Congress. Prior to the filing of the re
port of the committee Supervisor Reed's
motion that a committee be appointed to
wait upon Rev. Father Peter C. Yorke
with the request that he address the coo
vention was carried, and Reed was de
tailed for the task. A motion to ad
journ just before Rev. Mr. Yorke's
arrival was voted down, and when
the clergyman appeared he was warmly
greeted. He spoke at some length, and at
the conclusion of his speech several mo
tions of more or less importance were
made and carried. The convention then
adjourned sine die.
FARMERS GIVE SUPPORT.
BIT, representative* of American labor liere assembled. I
think I can say to yon that yon will find yon have a firm
friend and supporter In the American farmer on this Issue,
and when the American farmer thoroughly understands
this subject yon need not fear the result. The American farmer
Is no fool. He knows that his best and greatest market Is the
home market, and he knows also that his best customer and his
best friend Is the well-paid, well-housed, well-clothed and well
fed American working-man. The refore, worktngmen of California,
let your voice be heard on this snbject with no uncertain sonnd,
and I feel assured that the farmers of this State and nation will
rnlly to yonr standard and carry It, like onr boys In the late
Spanish wnr did theirs, to complete and glorious victory.— Ex
cept from speech delivered to Chinese Exclusion Convention by
J. S. Taylor of Napa.
MORAL AND LEGAL
POINTS OUTLINED
Convention Adopts Resolutions and
Acts on Reports of the
Committees.
UPON the reconvening of tie
Chinese Exclusion Convention
in Metropolitan Temple yester
day morning. Chairman Geary
called for the report of t.ie
committee on permanent or
ganization and order of business. Secra
tary Mason read tho following report,
which was greeted with hearty applause:
Mr. Chairman: Your committee on permanent
,organization and order of business respectfully
submits the following report:
First— We recommend that the temporary
chairman, Hon. Thomas J. Geary, be continued
as the permanent chairman of this convention.
Second— We recommend that the following
named gentlemen be selected by this convention
to act as vice chairmen thereof, namely: James
1. Barry. C. A. Stark?. H. Rodgers."
Third— We recommend that H. A. Mason, the
temporary secretary of this convention be con
tinued as the permanent secretary thereof, with
the following named assistants: Charles Shae
fer. T. F. Esan and C. D. Rogers.
Fourth— That the committee consisting of five
members at large and three members from each
Congre«slonal District in this State, heretofore
appointed by the chair as a committee on mem
orial and resolutions, with the chairman of this
convention added thereto, with power to In
crease their number if in their Judgment they
should deem the same necessary, be continued
a permanent committee to take such action as
in their Judgment may be necessary *o aid in
the passage of a Chinese exclusion act.
And upon the order of business we recommend
to this convention the following:
First— The report of the committee on memo
rial and resolutions.
Second— Addresses by invited speakers.
i Third— Adjournment. f
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Louis Wallenctein moved that the re
port as read be adopted and concurred in
by the convention. This was done. As the
committee on resolutions and memorials
was not ready to report, upon motion oy
Delegate Johnston of Napa its member 3
were granted further time.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF
THE CHUTESE QUESTION
Brilliant Address by Assistant United
States District Attorney Duncan
E. McXinlay.
D. E. ITcKinlay, Assistant United
States Attorney for the District of Cali
fornia, was introduced to the convention
and delivered a stirring and forcible ad
dress. He enlightened the delegates on
the scope of the Geary act. He had many
wise suggestions, and his remarks were
listened to with deep "interest. In pa-t
he said:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conven
tion: I apprehend that the invitation extended
by the managers of this convention, to tho
United States Attorney's office to participate
In these proceedings arose from a desire on
the part of the managers to place before the
convention the data and the information
which that office could furnish concerning: the
practical operation of the Chinese exclusion
law.
As to the desirability of the re-enactlon of
the Chinese exclusion laws there can be no
que3tion.
This great convention — composed of delegates
from every part of our commonwealth of Cali
fornia— delegates representing every firm of
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