The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-08
The Shoe Trade.

Posts representative, In search CT more
facts relative to the shoe trade, stum-
bled across an individual who holds
position in a we'll known shoe store in
the city.
81 see," taid the shoemaker, "that the
Post has gone to work again in earnest,
and has hit the right nail on the bead,
as it did a year ago with regard to the
Chinese shoemaking business. But I
can assure you that it has not got at
half the facts as yet, particularly as re-
CARDS the retail business"
"Well, perhaps you can enlighten us
a little"
"That is more than my place is worth
if it was known, for you must observe
we are merely tools in the hands of our
employers. We have to lie from morn
ing till night in selling Chinamen's
shoes for white labor. You would
scarcely credit the fact, but some of the
most high toned retail stores in the city
have the back door open all the time to
receive the goods from Chinese makers.
Remember, l am not speaking of one
house in parti ,ular, but all, with two or
three exceptions"
"It appears the retailers support the
Chinese, then, and not the wholesale
houses"
"Certainly. They deceive the whole
sale house, and tomorrow the Chinaman
will deceive them"
"I don't understand"
"In this way: Whereas, formerly,
the wholesale houses alone supported
John, now the retailers do, and, in fact,
actually get his custom shoes mace by
the Monaghan, thus deceiving the very
people who are endeav oring to patronize
white labor only"
81 can hardly believe that in custom
made shoes they would dare deceive the
public"
"You can believe as you please, but
there is, as I say, hardly house in town
but does it."
"Does the customer receive the ben
eft p
"In no single instance. l have known
hundreds of shoes ordered at high rates,
and still they send them to Chinatown.
| saw an article in the Post last week
stating that only four houses in the city
dealt in white labor. doubt if there
are four. Even the large houses that
are so extensively patronized follow on
the same road. Indeed, there is not,
think, single store on Third, Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth and Market streets that
does not deal in Chinese made Shoes"
care you sure they could get on with
out this work g
81 will answer this by asking you a
question. How did we get on before
the pigtails came among usa How do
they do Eastl How do they do in parts
of the world where no Chinaman ever
set his foot ?"
"Suppose all the stores quit employ
ing Chinese for one menth, what benefit
would accrueY''
"Simrly that the shoemakers, now
dispersed all over the State doing work
they know nothing about, would rush
into the city and every man be EN-
ployed on the spot, which would have
the effect of driving out thousands of
Chinese. BY and by John will damage
the retail trade as we'll as the wholesale,
as no later than yesterday l saw as
many as "a customers in o Chinese
store ON Commercial street, purchasing
largely"
"What took you there?'
II went about shoes for the store.
By the way, in speaking Of the pawn
broking business carried on at the find
ing and leather stores, the Post made an
error There are two exemptions, in
place of one"
"Do they do . very large business in
this wayT
at is to-day their staple business, and
their tricks to deceive the public are
truly ingenious Now, you have an sx-
Supervisor here, who, while passing
anti Chinese laws, was himself broker
for Chinese shoes, being then and now
dealer in leather"
"Then you imply that all those largo
stores un Market street are dealing in
Chin, hoesl"
"l.y.' one of them but the time is
fas' ... when John will be even fur
the. ...o.J Next year he will import
his o.u leather and findings, if the
devil or the capitalists don't stop him.
L l. l. e a