The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-19
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
More Talk on the Subject What Al
Kane Says.

The Chinese question was yeterday an
all-absorbing topic about town, and no
matter who met or where they met, it was
discussed. Opinions varied, some were rad
ically opposed to the Chinese, Others were
conservative, and still others in favor OF
their remaining. During the day the China
men, with q seeming stolid intolerance, pur-
sued the even tenor of their way, and they
could be seen along the streets packing
their baskets or trotting along as usual.
"Chinatown,' however, wore u quiet look
and stroll through there by MINER rep
resentative impressed him with belief that
a spirit of uneasiness pervaded the settle
ment. The men were at work in the laun-
dries and the stores were open as usual, but
there was quiet on the streets that showed
there Was some alarm. In quest of infor
nation The MINER stumbled across All
Kane, the interpreter, and lengthy talk
conservative in his remarks and as he is SO
well known in Butte, the interview is given
as the Chinese side of the story.
WHAT All KANE SAYS.
:'You are an old timer. are you not, All
Kane?" asked the representative.
"Yes, came to California in 1858 and
came to Montana in 1885,"
pretty well known?"
"Yes. sir. I am well known in Montana,
especially in Butte, and I can truthfully
say that have as many friends among the
white citizens as have among my own
countrymen."
"What do you think of the circular?"
"Of course that is q delicate subject for
Chinese population of Butte does not inter-
fere with white labor. We have no
Chinese miners here and but few laborers.
They are all washers, cooks, servants and
gardeners. So far as they are concerned
they do not try to take away a living from
the whites and could not if they did. You
know that if the hotel and restaurant men
could got white cooks to suit them they
would not employ a Chinaman."
''How about Drices?"
'They all command good wages. Take
the cooks. They range from $12 to $25
per week and one OF them gets $2S per week.
As for washing you know about that your
SELF The others get fair wages, too, for the
work they do"
"Well what else?"
"Why, another thing, the China boys do
a great deal OF labor Of a class that white
men will not do. They hold it to be degrad'
inSr +,o ,,.;n+ +,.+ xou
are not good citizens; that you send all
the money that you earn out OF the coun-
try"
1.-THE reports of the amount OF money
sent out of the country are exaggerated.
OF course there is considerable sent to China
so there is by other foreigners to their coun-
tries. The Government OF the United States
will not allow us to become naturalized and
will not allow us to hold property. No,
if we wanted to we could not invest. | know
OF several places where Cinnamon have pur-
chased some worn out placer claims ana
have been driven off,"
'That is the reason, is it:''
eyes, and another thing [ want to men,
ton, that most OF the Cinnamon i'll this
city havabeen been for long time resi-
dents of The United States. l know Il good
many, and l am one cf them, who have
made fortunes here and lost them. never
sent any money home"
"Do you anticipate any troube''
"No. do not think that there will be
places Of the men are filled by white men
we will have to go. but l do not think
there is any disposition to use violence.
We are too few here to harm anyone, and
know that as white labor comes in We
must give way. This is particularly true
OF house servants. People will naturally
prefer women help and will employ it when
they can get it. There is another thing;
under the Chinese treaty the government
has ODngateO ltSeH 10 prOVecC us, anu
think the great majority OF the people OF
Butte are too law abiding to do us bodily
HARM"
"How about the Chinese restaurants"
"They are all two bit restaurants, and
as a number Of white men keep at the same
price they can tell you that when the bills
are paid there is but little more than q
living made. There is no fortune in two
bit meals" This ended the talk with All
Kane, and the reporter sought for fresh
fields for informa atiOn