Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-07
CHINESE UNDER TINE NEW Law.
A Scheme Which Resembles Plan 10 Swim.
die the ceiestials.

WAsnIScroS. Jan. "a government iu-
speetor of Chinese in the Sonth writes to
the treasury department that New York
Chihaman named Tam Yuen Sun is travel
ing about representing himself as an agent
! of the Chinese Six Companies, and collect.
ing the sum of 81 from Chinese people
whom he can induce TO believe that the
money is TO be expended in the retention
of counsel TO contest the constitutionalty
of the Chinese exclusion act.
When approached he was unable to show
satisfactory credentials, and left for New
York City TO establish his identity, having
collected 5000 at least from New Orleans
Cinnamon. He threatens to make it OK
ceedingly hot for the doubling Chinese
Thomases who had dared to question his
authority. He succeeded in stirring up the
Cinnamon, and if he appears again without
suitable credentials he is promised direful
visitation after true Chinese ideas of yen-
geance.
Mr.. Sun also claimed to be distinguished
member of the Highbinders Society, which
he made use of to intimidate Chinese who
are not members of that much-dreaded as
sociation. The inspector reports that a
good many of the Chinese belong to this or
pn tut tucOTN tudt something
would happen to them if they did not Join
it. lie says great majority of the better
intentioned Chinese are bitterly opposed to
the Highbindcrs and that they have engaged
the services of a prominent American to
institute legal proceedings with a view to
breaking up this cutthroat association,
(which is not only menace TO the law
abiding Cinnamon, hut foul stain upon
American civilization, whose laws and
us iges it ignores"
In relation to the reception of the Chi
nese exclusion law, the inspector says there
is general Misunderstanding of the pro-
visions of the act, and that they are being
educated, through mercenary motives, into
belief that the law is aimed at aud is
against their liberties. He continues that
there is every reason to believe that the oI,-
position to the Chinese exclusion act is be-
ing manufactured by interested parties for
the sole purpose of hoodwinking Chinese
residents of the United States into liberal
contributions for the alleged purpose Of
employing eminent legal talent to contest
the constitutionality of the act, but in real
ity for the purpose of gain on the part of
the leaders of the opposition agitation.
r There has hardly been provision of the
Chinese exclusion act carried out in the
country. There have no, been over hun
drcd Cinnamon in all parts of the country
who have registered, and the treasury dc
partment people are at a loss to know how
they can 20 about an enforcement of til,
law. 1t is likely they will await the action
of Congress in amending the law, by max
ing its provisions possible of enforcement
or by its rppcai The gentlemen who hay
charge of the enforcement of the law in
Washington hope for this result, as reli,
from the knowledge that they must de.d
with II well-nigh impossible to carry out.
One treasury department official styles
the law as brutal in its unjust discriminl-
ton against a foreign element to the United
States which is peaceful and inoffensive, Ms
compared with other classes of Immigrants