Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-11
ANTI-CHINESE.
MASS MEETING OF CITIZENS AT
TURNER HALL.
Vigorous Speeches-Sensible Reso
Iutions = Methods Advised
Permanent Organization.


siastic and representative gatherings of
business men, mechanics and laborers that
ever convened in this city. Long before
the hour of arrived the street in front of
the hall was crowded with people, and the
sidewalks on either side were thronged
with citizens, who were waiting anxiously
for the doors to be opened so that they
could secure place in the hall. There
| was no noisy demonstration, no discussing
of the objects of the meeting, but they
were quiet ana orderly body of men,
many of whom were unable to procure
work, and who were anxious to hear what,
| if anything, the meeting would OF could
| do to improve their condition. AT 7:15
| the doors were opened, and the crowd
| rushed in pell-mell In less than five min
| utes standing room could not be obtained,
and it is safe to say that it was the largest
gathering that ever assembled in the hall.
| 1t was a perfect sea of up-turned faces !;
| men who maintained the most perfect
! order and literally applauded the senti-
ments uttered by the speakers.
The assembly was called to order by Will
lam Tanner, the representative working
man, who was instrumental in calling the
meeting He said the meeting had been
called for the purpose of considering in all
| its bearings the momentous question that
was agitating the whole people of the coast.
that of Chinese cheap labor He had called
upon the business men of the city, as well
as the mechanics and laborers, and had
succeeded in getting them united upon this
most important question. By united
effort he thought it was possible 10 free our
selves from this incubus, this old man of
the sea" and relieve the present wants of
white labOrers He asked for nominations
for Chairman.
George b. katzenstein was unanimously
| chosen Chairman of the meeting, and J. II
Miller and ]. B. Harris Secretaries.
In assuming the duties of the chair, Mr..
| Katzenstein said he esteemed it an honor
and pleasure, as well as a privilege, to be
called to preside over such an assemblage
| in the capital city of the great State OF
| California. He understood it had been
called jointly by the Board of Trade. Citi-
zens Committee and representatives OF
labor, to consider the question of the Chi
nese evil. He hoped the question would
| be properly considered and discussed. Ours
was Government of the people, by the
people and for the people. The question
| under consideration is one that interests us
individually and collectively The heather
| uOGue IS no DGltDl 10 us w e must
meet the question as men. Deeds of vio-
lence effect nothing. There must be a
unity of sentiment, harmony of action, the
rights of all must be respected. Virtue
may yield to force, but will come out vic
torious in the end. We have rights, how
ever, that we dare assert and maintain.
The people in the East do not appreciate
nor do they understand our condition
| Here i'll the West we are as a mere hand
ful-a fiftieth part Of this great nation. We
must make our wants known
and felt. Our wants and thoughts must be
crystallzed by this and similar meetings,
and endeavor to bring our grievances be-
| fore Congress in a manner which will de-
mand their respect and consideration. He
said his entire sympathy was with the
workingmen in this movement, as it was
at all times for the down-trodden and op-
pressed everywhere. [Applause] He
hoped those who would be called upon to
| address the meeting would temper their
remarks with wisdom, that much good
would result, and the whole matter
crystallized into shape that it could be
taken hold of Immediately.
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
On motion, the Chair was directed to
appoint a Committee of nine on Resolu-
tons. He appointed the following gentle
men William Tanner H Weinstock, J.
d. Jost, Joseph Stetfens, J. Dooley, T. B.
Hall, Jabez Turner, Sparrow Smith, f. B
Tucker.
r. NJ. Clarken was the first speaker. He
said he was very much pleased to see such
an outpouring of the best citizens of Sacra.
mento to consider this all-absorbing sub
ject. He did not come prepared to make q
set Speech-did not think he would be
called upon to set the ball a-rolling but il
was a subject we all were too familiar with
and it had but one side. He was pleased
to note in the audience the merchants, the
business and professional men of Sacra-
mento, and it augurs well for the cause
This is not the place for oratorical display
1t is time for action. 1--WE all desire to be
freed from that incubus that has held us
down for the past thirty years. We must
be up and doing. What brings US here?
need not tell you, for it is too
PLAINLY WRITTEN UPON EVERY FACE
In this audience. There is not laborine
man within the sound of my voice but
what can answer that question better than
l. We desire to get rid of the Chinese en-
croachment in this State and nation in
comparison to which the civil war was but
a shadow. There are 100000 Chinese
ready to pour in upon us. We must take
some active steps in California, for it is now
almost impossible to cope with the crying
evil. Chinese are employed everywhere
| throughout the State, and in all sorts OF
business. In California we have 100 DOC
Chinese who are usurping the places in the
labor mart that properly belong to our BOYS
and girls. They are earning the wages that
you should have, and which would HELM
school your children and keep the wolf
from the door. Applause We must pu;
| CHI to hoo l.,
one man. Our actions should be such as
become patriots and not politicians, and as
patriots we should preserve this heritage
and hand it down to posterity as our fore
fathers gave it.
HOW IT CAN BIZ DONE
The speaker said he had conceived 8
plan which, in his judgment, if adopted
would throttle and kill out this curse in q
very few months. Congress had been un.
able to handle the subject, although it has
been brought before it repeatedly. BY
such meetings as this tonight, California
can show Congress that we mean business
mean to act within and by the law, and in
course of time make it so unhealthy fol
the Chinaman that he will prefer to re
main in his Asiatic home. Applause.
We can organize the entire State of Cali
fornia as Sacramento is organized tonight
1
at the county seat of every county and in
every city and town. and adopt resolution:
and flood Congress with them, Have them
at the same time elect delegates to State
Convention, to be held here or in San
Francisco, for the purpose of devisine
means or bringing about measures thai
will accomplish the desired end. Let
those delegates pledge their constituent:
upon their sacred honor that Chinamar
shall not be employed by man, woman
or child in this State after sixty days time
that after that date no Chinaman need ap.
ply for any position, be it good, bad or in.
different, and this Chinese problem is
solved. Their places shall be filled with
white labor, and the cry for labor will nc
longer be heard in the land. [Immense
applause and cries of GOOD, goodirl II
will, under those conditions, be desire
upon the part of the Chinese to leave Cali.
fornia, instead of coming here, and thus
within the pale of the law and with its as.
sistance we can throw defiance in the face
of Congress. If, after the sixty days, white
men are found who will persist in EN-.
ploying Chinese boycott them. Applause.
Refuse to trade with the merchant whC
employs them in any way, or offers fol
sale an article manufactured in whole OF
part by them. Do not trade with the
Chinese fish peddler Do not patronizt