St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-27
TWO TALK OF THE HEATHEN
George ID. Lawson, Indicted at Ia
coma, ON Chinese Troubles.
A Visitor From 'Frisco Says the Ce-
lestials Are Going Home.

George d. Lawson, formerly editor Of
the Tacoma News and one of the twenty
nine indicted for implication in the move
ment against the Chinese at Tacoma few
months ago. was found at the st. James
hotel last night confined to his bed with
nervous prostitution, resulting from his long
and tedious journey over the Northern Pa
chic from the coast. Mr.. Lawson Is a gen.
ueman of fine address aud Is an exceed
mgly pleasing c0nversationaliSt. He said
that the people IN the East do not
and never can understand perfectly
the Chinese question. During the trouble
in Tacoma, he said. reports were sent from
Portland greatly distOrting facts and widely
overdrawing the matter. He claims that
the Chinese were ordered out of the town
Oct. l. 1885, and many of them left, but so
many remained that it was deemed necessary
to eXpel them and the citizens took teams
and transferred the property of the Chinese
to town called Lakeview, nine miles from
Tacoma, where they were put aboard the
cars AL shipped TO Portland. He says the
reports of Cinnamon being killed and sub
lected to cruelty are false in every
particular. They were we'll cared
for up to the time that they
were put aboard the cars. Prior to Octo-
Der. 1885, Cinnamon in Tacoma comprised
one-tenth of the population Of the city,
which was about z, 500 people. They were
employed in light labor at low wages, and
sent out of the town To their native land on
an average of $500 week. They were
extremely filthy In their habits and manner
or living. and spent none OF their earnings
IN the town. The consequence was the
streets were full of idle men. merchants
complaining of stagnatiOn of business and
general depression. During the win
ter of 1884 and 1885 sixty. seven
families were thrown upon the city
for support, and in the winter of
1885 and 1885. after the Chinese
were cleared out, there were only two APP
plications for help from INDECENT families
in the city. The removal of the Chinese
has given employment to 300 women and
$50 men. Every branch Of
BUSINESS HAS IMPROVED.
While the Chinesesoceupied Tacoma in
such large numbers il was a gateway for
Illegal immigration. The Chinese would
land above there and come into the town.
mingle with their countrymen and they
could not be identified. Since they have
been put out this has become impossible.
The indictments were made under section
oolS, revised statutes OF the United States.
known as the Ku Klux act.
which act has been decided
unconstitutional, which fact Is known to
the men who found the indictments renders
them liable to prosecution for malfeasance
in Office. The Twenty-Five men, compris-
ing the mayor of the city and several alder
men, were taken to Vancouver for trial,
and took change of venue TO Tacoma,
where they were to be tried on the first
Monday In April, but they were bound
over under SIS. 900 bonds each, to appear
before special term of the United State:
district court TO be called in August.
This" said Mr.. Lawson, lis eQuiva-
lent to a discharge. In January
last, fifteen citizens Of Seattle were
indicted and tried under the same act, and
the jury, after fifteen minutes retirement,
returned with verdict of not guilty.
MIR. Lawson proposes to lecture in the
city on the Chinese question. and hi.
ability as a speaker should draw him full
house. His knowledge of the manners anC
customs of the Heather Chinee" will
enable him to give his auditors rare even
ings entertainment