Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-14
AGAINST THE CHINEE.
National Laundrymen Claim the
Mongolian Injuries the Trade.
MONEY MADE ON SMALL CAPITAL.
How the Laundry Business Has Grown in
the United States.
PRIZE ESSAYS READ AT THE MEETINGS

The laundrymen of the United States and
Canada commenced their annual meeting
yesterday at the Monongahela. The morn
ing and afternoon sessions were taken up
with preliminary work. and at the evening
meeting number of prize essays were read.
Thirtv-two new members were admitted into
the association.
President Doremus, in his annual report,
made an attack on the Chinese laundrymen,
and referred to the benefits of the associa-
tion. He alluded to the good standing of
the laundrymen in New York by reason of
their union, also the fight against cut
rate laundry concern in Chicago, which was
won by reasonable combination.
CANNOT FIGHT THE CHINESE.
Referring to the Chinese association. Presi-
dent Doremus said that they could not as
national association openly fight the Chinese.
They would have to contend with the press and
ministry. Local organizations, however, could
do much to suppress them by quietly working
with landlords and tenants in buildings where
tenants are permitted to occupy rooms and a
result whereby landlords would refuse to rent
Cinnamon rooms. He recommended that the
association lay out the country in districts and
appoint delegates to visit the cities in their dis.
trict and arbitrate the differences as TO price.
The evening session of the association was
given to entertaining exercises. A number of
papers were received and read on questions OF
interest to the laundry business in competition
for prizes.
Papers were submitted on "Cash vs. Credit"
"Cleanliness and Order" work and Win"
Progressive Ideas" THE Chinese Question"
and decisive Battles" by various members
whose names were withheld. The prizes offered
were three gold medals. The papers were re-
ferred to Special committee. who will report
the winners to-day.
The man who wrote on the Chinese question
handled the Mongolians without gloves. His
ideas were similar to those advanced by Presi-
dent Doremus. 1t was soon discovered that the
heather Chinee is the thorn in the flesh, and
the laundrymen would like to see him out of
the business. There are about 1000 steam
who earn annually $50, 0OO, 600. Three years ago,
according to figures furnished, Sl4, 730, 600 were
invested In laundries, and since then the busi-
ness has greatly increased in value and invest
mentS
EXTENT OF CoOLIE LABOR.
The association claims that at least 250OO0
Cinnamon are working at the trade in this
country, and thoy make sN, 900 annually.
Their capital Is said to be not more than $780,
600. All large cities have their Chinese laundry
men, but they swarm in Western towns and
especially along the Pacific coast.
The essays on cleanliness in laundries and
the credit system were quite interesting. The
people who imagine that laundries are disagree
able places will be much surprised if they visit
one that is well conducted. The writer urged
on all laundrynen to keep their places rs clean
as possible. The credit system, of course was
denounced; laundrymen it seems have been
nipped as well as other people.
The readlng OF the papers was lnterspersed
by an essay on "a Laundryman's, Dream" by
{. A. Royce; a song by William Pierra, and
music by the orchestra. This afternoon and
evening the delegates will visit the iron mills,
glasshouses, etc., and places of amusement.