Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-27
JOIN CHINAMAN.
THE TROblE He is CAUSING IN
VAN FRANCISCO.
Workiugme,and Capitalists exeited-Vig'
lance committee 0rganilsd-A
Peaceful Solution Of the
Question Probable.

| ShAlAduf
Francisco ,dA, this morning, saysa
secret mesing OF citizens, for the
purpose oforganizing vigilance COM
mittee, va held last night in the Palace
hotel. Te avowed object OF the organ
i1ation is he suppression OF any posi-
bic riot witch might occur in connec-
ton with :he labor agitation movement
SAN FhNCIsco, February 26.-There
was no nrade of the workingmen to-
day, an, the meeting at the Sand lots
was comparatively tame. Gannef, chair
man Of tie committee, reported that al
ter this week the committee would cease
calling on the employers OF Chinese and
thattie week day meetings ut the Sand
Lots wOld be discontinued. Cries OF
"Agitatepl ave will agitate In dii-
frent wg," said Gannef. His speech
WAS principally devoted to comment on
the recent meeting OF the merchants
With a view to raising subscriptions Tor
the benefit OF the unemployed, several
OF whom le abused roundly.
A meeting OF merchants was held this
afternoon % hear the report oi the COM
mittee appointed 10 concert relief meas
ures. There was very small attend
| apce. andthe report was not submitted.
The committee stated that since the last
meeting the incendiary language OF the
agitators had put the mercantile COM
munity in a frame OF mind in which 1t
would be of little use to approach them
for contributions The feeling seemed
TO be thd they were ready to assist the
| unempbyed, but wanted TO wait and
see the result Of the agitation. lhe
meeting adjourned without action.
The impression seemed 10 be that the
ptoiect had fallen through until such
| time as more temperate counsels might
prevail among the workingmen. Con
sidenble inquiry to-day among gentle
| men supposed TO be interested in the
reported figiance committee movement,
failed TO draw out any direct iniorma-
tion ON .he subject, but there is good
reason % believe fiat the report Is well
founded and that thorough organlza'
ton exists. Ii is understood that kear-
ney hs gone to Sacramento.
1t would appear from the tone OF the
editorials in the Eeastern papers teie-
grained to San Francisco, that much
apprehension exists as to the real situa-
ton here. 1t is not true that the agita-
! ton has assumed SoCiallstic as
pect, nor is there any good reason
| In believe that the mob will march
ON Chinatown. Several things have
combined to bring about the present
critical condition OF affairs. PROFESSIONS
of toe unemployed and their demands
for the discharge OF the Chinese and the
| emuloyment Of white men, excited the
worEingmen and irritated capital. The
passage of the law forbidding corpora
/ tions to employ Chinese, and the re-
llsal OF certain corporation managers 10
comply with the law until it had been
inierpreted by the United States
! CIsarts. aggravated the mutual hard
feeling. The action oi the Board oil
Health declaring Chinatown nuisance,
was supposed by the workingmen to
mean the immediate AMI Wholesale
condemnation Of the Chinese quarter
and the removal OF the occupants
70 the outskirts of the city, and the de-
/ lay necessarily arising in carrying out
! the decree Of condemnation in detail
under legal processes has given rise to
/ the apprehension that an effort is on
foot TO defeat the measure. These things
combined TO impress the workingInen
with the belief that while they have
both law and justice in the case on their
side, an organized attempt is afloat to
resist the lows and rob them OF the ben
eiits expected to arise from such en-.
forccmcnt. This belief has been fOstered
and their fears worked up to the high
est pitch Of apprehension by the
very windy decIamatlons ol
some Of their leaders, until
they are undoubtedly living in daily
expectation Of an uprising Of the Nlgi'
lance Committee backed by the police
and military for the purpose OF killing
their leaders and trampling the law un'
der their feet As matter OF iact the
condemnation of Chinatawn meets with
almost unanimous approval OF the
citizens. Corporations are daily dis
charging the Chinese, pending the IN
terprctation OF the law, and the relief
movement would have been actively
pr Guessing but for the violent harangues
Of Ine last few days. On the other
hand the incendiary language OF the agi
tors has alarmed and exasperated the
business classes until they are ready tC
arm in sei.deience. Both parties are
Ia hing themselves in 10 fury over almost
purely imaginary and supposliioui
grounds Of disagreement Ma doubt
Mayor kalloCh means Ia use all his IN
duencc with his followers to keel
peace. but he probably recognizes th'
fact that 10 maintain his influence
over them it is necessary TO certain ex
tent to fall into their ways OF speech ant
sction. At the present time few calm
words between the leaders Of the wor K
ingmen and the business classes woul'
70 far to create better understanding
and remove all the danger OF conflict
and from appearances to-day there
reason 10 believe that something OF tn
kind has taken place and that influence
are at work tending to pacific solution
OF the question.