Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-05-13
THE CHINESE WILL NEITHER
REGISTER NOR EMIGRATE.


The Geary law, which provides for the
exclusion of Chinese immigrants from
the United States for ten years more,
and which also makes il necessary for
all Cinnamon now residents Of the
country to secure certificates TO that
effect, was supposed to have gone into
effect May 9th, but has been so far re-
ally imperative. The Chinese Six Com
panies of San Francisco, the notorious
organization which substantially con-
trolls the affairs ofthe Celestials on this
side Of the water, have made known
their intention to fight the law TO the
bitter end, and as a consequence Presi-
dent Cleveland has agreed to tempo
rary compromise. In obedience TO the
orders of the Six Companies the China
men all over the country have neglected
to register and general assessment has
been made 10 meet the expense Of
defending a number of test cases.
Until the trial of these test cases has
been concluded and the United States
Supreme Court has passed upon them
no more arrests will be made. II
was apprehended that the cities along
the Pacific coast, where the Celestials
are 80 numerous, would be the scenes
of deeds of violence. but so far all is
serene, and it is probable that the
decision of the courts will be peacefully
awaited. Concerning the Chinese resi-
dents of South Dakota, and their atti-
tude towards the law, w. L. Hall, of the
revenue service, was interviewed by a
Rapid City Journal reporter with the
following result:
"For the past two weeks w. l.. Hall.
Of the United States revenue service,
has been rounding up the Chinese
residents of the Black Hills for the
purpose of getting them to comply
with the provisions of the Geary law,
which went-or was to go-into effect
on the first inst. Yesterday Mr.. Hall
returned to Rapid City and when asked
by Journal reporter as to the success
Of his trip he said, in substance, that
the law was dead letter in this state
There are about 400 Cinnamon in South
Dakota, ninety per cent of them being
out in the Black Hills, and of them
only few, who are employed by the
government or army officers at Fort
Meade, and they only after being or
dered to do so, have complied with the
law. In Deadwood, where there are
more Chinese than in any other Hills
camp, they are perfectly organized,
have employed attorneys and announce
that they have plenty ofmoney to carry
on the fight. They are, it is under
stood, acting under instructions from the
'Six Companies" which control almost
all Cinnamon in this country. 1t was
supposed by many that when the pro-
visions regarding photographs and two
witnesses were abolished that the most
obnoxious features Of the law had been
removed and that it could be enforced.
but, so far at least as the Black Hills
country is concerned, such does not APP
pear to be the case. Some time ago all
Cinnamon were given copies of the law;
they understood it thoroughly, but are
nevertheless making fight on it. Sew
srL Black Hills attorneys who have
examined the law expressed the opin-
ion that it cannot be enforced or sus-
tanned. Our Celestial neighbors when
questioned on the subject usually be-
come excited and angry. several of them
going SO far as to say. Just hold on,
Mclean man go China. he catchee"'-
but at this point, Mr.. Hall being very
mild spoken man, the reporter was left
to surmiss just what the "Melican man"
would "catchee."