The herald., 1893-06-18
SOME HEAVY SENTIMENTS,
a Mass Meeting Considers the
Geary Act.
Straight Talk Regarding the At
tempt to Nullify the Law.
a Large Audience Endorses the Spirit
OF the Act-Addresses which Eek
press the Sentiment of the
Ss Peopie-Proceedings. nsaaa

A macs meeting, under the auspices of
the Los Angeles Council OF Labor, was
held last evening at Turnverein hall, for
the purpose of expressing views and
opinions respecting the non-enforcement
OF the Geary law, and to arouse public
attention to the necessity of at once en-
otorcing it, and overcoming the eastern SEN
Stiment in favor of its delay by present-
ing atrue statement OF the facts aE ex-
iHting at present.
oss The hall was crowded by large and
enthusiastic audience. whose frequent
bursts OF applause showed the deep in
terest they felt in the matter under dis
cussion.
George W. Retzer, of the Los Angeles
Council of Labor, occupied the chair,
and in short well-worded address in
troduced Homer @. Katz, chairman of
legislative committee of the Council OF
Labor.
MR.. KATz's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Katz spoke as follows: You have
been asked to assemble here by the Fed
Grated Trades OF this city for the pur-
purpose of assisting in the enforcement
of the Geary act, by raising the voice OF
the people of Los Angeles in unison
with the Pacific coast against the .nulli-
fication Of the most important piece of
legislation ever promulgated in the
interests of this coast and the laboring
masses. The Federated Trades have no
desire to pose before the public as pro-
fessionRl anti-Chinese agitators. They
do not believe it is necessary to create
an anti-ChineHe feeling in this state;
that has already been demonstrated at
the polls, some years ago. The trades
unions believe, however, that laws, be
they good or bad, are made to be en-
, forced, and they view with alarm the
apparent disregard by the authorities at
Washington of the enforcement of the
Geary act. Forty-two days have come
and gone since that act went into effect,
and the only result has been this con-
vic.ion Of one lone Chinaman by the
Federated Trades OF this city, who now
languishes in our bastile on the hill, a
memento of the laws delay.
We have no criticisms to make, no re-
Elections to cast upon the federal author
tiles Of this city; we, however, can not
help but feel that had the Geary act
been drawn in favor OF some gigantic
truet, its enforcement would have been
speedier. Judge Kicks, Judge Tufts and
Judge Billings, all federal judges, and
all honorable men, did not hesitate 30
days in rendering decision after decis-
ion against organized labor. When,
however, the congress of the United
States passes law which places in the
hands OF the laboring masses weapon
{ OF defense, by means OF which they can
drive from these beautiful shores that
Mongolian horde which swept through
the Golden Gate, bringing gloom and
poverty in it's wake, 1t should be taken
advantage of.
Depriving American men, Ameri-
can women and American children
of the right to live and enjoy the
pleasures OF life filling this land with
horror, the smell of opium mingling
with the fragrance OF the orange bios
? som, licentiousness and lust, murder
and gambling, all attendant satellites of
this great curse; they come spurning
our laws, defying the Lawmakers,
laughing at the laws officials.
They have now made themselves
amenable to its consequences, and as
citizens OF the United States we de-
( mand that they be held responsible for
its infractione. They believed the
Chinese Six companies might tier than
the United States, and IL rests with the
people Of this coast to teach them the
difference. Our eastern brethren do not
appreciate the horrible effects OF this
Chinese invasion, but are led astray by
o false sympathy, and endorse this
breaking Of the law by the. Chinese.
Tom Geary, the Californian congress-
man, who drew that law, knew his busi-
ness. Tom Geary is Californian, and
. as Californiane we propose to stand by
him. For that reason are we all here
tonight, and before the morning sun has
climbed heavenward in the skies OF
Washington the protest of Los Angeles
will be heard in executive halls de-
manding that the law be enforced.
sf SENATOR WHITES VIEWS.
Mr.. Katz then read the following let
ter from Senator Stephen M. White:
II regret that an important engage
ment. made long before the present
meeting was announced, renders in inn
possible for me to accept your invitation.
do not believe that there is any sub
etantial difference OF opinion in Califor-
mia as to the desirability OF excluding
the Chinese. The electors of this state
have expressed themselves upon this
Issue, and with practical unanimity.
Those who denounce Oalifornians in this
connection are ignorant OF the actual
Z condition of affairs. We known the Chi
I nese; are thoroughly familiar with their
habits, mode of living, and peculiar char
acteristics. We have demanded federal
Legislation not to annoy or persecute Chi
,namen, but simply in self-defense. The
object OF the Geary act is not to eject
the Cinnamon who are here. but to pre-
went the illegal advent of others OF the
r. same race. The registration provided
for Is not onefous. No expense or per-
Isonal afront would be incurred or suf-
. fered by Chinaman seeking to comply
gstherewith. Our citizens, in order to
vote, must register, and must furnish q
wherein are mentioned all
ndiafgurements and apparent physical
udefects. This detail is published for
general inspection. We submit to
this to prevent fraud and to
insure pure ballot. It is not
aoasking too much of the foreigner
who 10 here by suffersnce merely, to do
b an act similar to one which we are will
ing to perform ourselves. II Chinese
residents had complied with this simple
demand OF the Geary act as to registra-
tiop, there would not have been and
would now be no trouble whatever. 1t
.tmust be remembered that deportation
ode only inaiated upon In consequence OF
Noncompliance with the simple de-