The morning call., 1892-04-09
PROTEST AGAINST RAIDS.
Chinese Merchants Bitterly COM
plain About the Police.
They Threaten to Withdraw Support From mp
New Station on Waverly Plaoe-What
Chief Crowley Says

Chinese merchants, backed by their Six
Companies and Consul. complain bitterly of
the actions Of police in Chinatown, and
threaten to withdraw their support from the
new stallion on Wayorly place. They CON-
plain that officers have needlessly raided the
stores of reputable merchants in search OF
gambling games and lotteries. Chief Crow
ley did not hear of these mutterings of dis
content until yesterday, when the following
letter. signed by the attorney for the Chi
nese. reached police headquarters:
SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 1892.
p: Crowley, CHIEF Of POtice-DEAR SIR: The
leaulDg Chinese merchants OF San francisco aud
The SIX Companies and the Chinese Consulate
held meeting on Monday evening for The pur-
pose OF Vigorously protesting against the actions
OF some OF the officers who are detailed in the
gambling.
In the first place they say the officers are rnde
and diseourteous in their treatment of the me-
chants for the purpose OF investigation Sec
ondly, they say the officers have entered many
stores Tor The pose OF investigating witl ref
eieHce 10 lotteries where no lottery gambling
was ever known 10 exist. Thirdly, they claim
that no officer has right 10 enter store uDou a
mere color OF suspicion without search war
rant. In this they are correct
However, they desire me to say that they do
net object 10 this proceeding upon merely tech
nical grounds, bat they desire to suggest 10 you,
a matter OF Justice and equity, that they
should not be subjected to The iudigaity OF hav-
Ing officers enter their stores every day, closing
up The front and rear entrances, thus ceiling
crowds around Tie DOORS to the great deti in,ent
oil their business, and they further desire To pro-
les most SlTenuouSIy against being inSuited by
rude and offensive conduct. Unfortunately for
them they are as sensitive people OF eur own
race, and they claim. and very justly, too, THAI
they should not be subjected to >ulIs aud in
dgnlties which the officers would not dare TO
heap upon people of other natIonalities.
1he merchants say that when they consented
10 pay the expense OF establishing a police Sill
tlOn IN the Chinese quarter, they did IL IN The
expectation of deriving a benefit gherefrom.
But instead OF having their eXpectai Ions realized
mites and offensive conduct since its establish
ment When the Officers see lit TO enter places
like Wo Kee & Co., 939 Dupont street; Kim
Lung u Co., southeast corner OF Clay and Du-
pont streets, and Wing On Lung q Co., 500 Du-
pOnt street. where no one was ever arrested for
gambling, and which stores were never charged
10 De, and were never as q matter or fget,
gagged in the lottery business. tile merchants
think they have very strong and just grounds OF
complaint.
This is respec fully submitted to you at the re-
quest OF the Chinese Six Companies and the
Chinese Merchants Exchange, Respectfully
THOMAS ID. RIORDAE.
When questioned in reference to the mat
ter the Chief said: Some say | am doing
nothing to suppress gambling in Chinatown.
while the Chinese merchants say am doing
too much. We have investigated the charges,
and find that while it is true these mer-
chants are reputable, it is not true that off
GERS have raIded their places. | have given
orders TO break up lottery games wherever
they can be fOune, and | shall proceed as |
have done in the past, although the mer-
chants do refuse to support the station"