The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27
AN AWKWARD SLIP.
Wong Chin Foo Talks for
the Chinese.
HERE ONLY TO MAKE MONEY.
California Opinion INDICATED in the
Hearing Before the House Conn
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL

president Of the Chinese Equal Rights
League Of New York City, appeared before
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House this morning to favor Andrews bill
for the repeal Of the Gesry act Wong was
Hitired in store clothes. lie wore his hair
short and spoke English well for a China
man. he and the secretary Of the league,
Tom Yuen, who accompanied him. were
quite youthful in appearance. OF the
Foreign Affairs Committee there were pres
ent Chairman Blount and Messrs. Hooker,
Chipmsn, Geary. Fitch, Andrews. Harmer
and O'D0nnell. besides two ladies. who
we're evidently woman sutfCagjsts.
Wong began his address by asking Is it
then crime TO be a Chinsman? Shall / be
dragged from my bed at midnight because l
shall refuse to be photographed? No, l
viii lot be photographed against my will
like a criminal. 1 would be hanged first.
Why should we be made the subjects of
discrimination, of indiguity, of animadver-
sion and prescription? In order TO remain
IN America we must be photographed and
spied upon. We must tell when and how
We arrived"
Mr.. Geary GnteTupting)-The collector
does not require the last
Yes" said Wong, 'for how can l get
4 4
came?"
Let him proceed without interruption"
said The chairman.
II speak for those Chinese now resident
in America" Wong went on. There are
10000 Of them, bons-fde residents. who
have been here ten, twenty and thirty
years-who have their families here, who
have educated their children in your schools
Ca, &c
unconstitutional because 1t requires excess
sive bail and infietS cruel and unusual
punishment. The best people of this coun-
iry-Baptists, Methodists and other reli-
gi0us denominations, clubs, societies and
mass ass-meetings-naVa resolved to favor the
repeal Of the G ary act. We favor the
Andrews bill, now pending in the HOuse.
which repeRls Geary's law. leaving matters
Just as they were before its passage"
Here Wong became grandiloqueut and
almost pathetic as he dilsted upon the
unjust exactiOns Of the exclusion law. lie
quoted from the New York sun an editorial
article commenting fayorably upon Judge
Nelson's decision releasing a Chnaman
upon habeas corpus proceedings. Then
Wong exhibited large bundle of news
paper clippings.
"NineJy-fve per cent Of these are against
the Geary act" said he They are from
newspapers all over the country. except in
California and Oregon, where We do not ex-
pect them 10 treat US with justice"
Now, will you please tell rs what law
your Cinnamon want enacted" Mr.. Geary
asked. politely.
I'VE want to restore the condition of af-
fairs that existed before the passage Of the
Geary act"
"Do you mean" asked the Californian.
''the condition that existed before the pas
sage OF the Scott law? Do you wish TO be
entitled TO 20 back TO China aud then re-
turn to the United States?"
I'VE want law that won't photograph
Us" said Wong 1--WE do not wish TO be
treated as criminals"
Now, Wong" reasoned Mr.. Geary,
''theTe Is N use IN your talking like that.
This is a most humane law. Under old con-
ditlons the Chinese were harassed By arrest
and Imprisonment. You have only to pro-
vide yourself with a certificate 10 render
you free from molestation."
Certificates are impossible for many
ChInsmeD," retorted Wong, land besides
there is the disgrace. We don't wish to be
Photographic ike felons We are law
abiding"
yet you admit there are 10000 Chinese
in America" said Mr.. GesTy. "a few
years ago there were only $4,000. How do
you account for the increase of 10000?
Surely it does not come from natural causes.
They were smuggIed in. Everybody knows
that. How many Cinnamon wear short
hair and clothes like yours? That is why
you must be photographed. Your people
are not law-abiding. That is why they
must be regarded as they are in the United
States. We only ask you to get certificate
and do not ask you 70 pay nickel for IT."
"Are you willing we should restore the
old law allowing the entry Of visitors, mer-
chants, teachers, travellers and students,
and prohibiting the entry Of the working
classes ?" Chairman Blount asked of Wong.
Yes, that Is what We want"
"But how could we make such a law
effective more than iB the past?' the chair
man queried.
by holding the steamships responsible
as well as the Chinese Government" said
Wong.
"But how could we hold the Chinese
Government responsibleY" continued the
chairman, and the Chinaman smiled
slightly.
"By fniDg her fer each infractIon of the
law"
There was laughter at this, and Blount
asked. Would We have to send our army
over there TO collect the fne?"
THAT would be unnecessary. I think"
said Wong. for China would pay up"
do l understand that you are fighting
for those Chinese now in this country and
are willing that no more shall Gomez" asked
Ar. Fitch.
yes, most of the Chinese in this country
come from one small province of China.
Our government is Indifferent about the
Cantonese, as they are called. China does
not regard them In the least, and cares not
where they go OF what they do, as long as
they make money"
Wong realized at once that he had made
a slip Of the tongue in his last admission,
and laugh was created in the committee at
his expense. He went on, however, TO say
that the Chinese Government offered not
tie slightest encouragement to their emf
grafton 70 America.
"Bnt Why does not the Chinese Govern
ment prevent their emigration 10 American"
Mr. GeaTy asked.
'If China would do that would you and
your Pacific Coast people be willing for
those in the United States TO remain here?"
Mr. Fitch asked Of the Californian a. this.
Certainly. We have no objection to
those now here" Geary replied
III your Government is so utterly indif-
ferent about the Cantonese why is she so
Jealous about their rights In the United
States?" Mr.. Blount asked, once more turn
Ing to Wong.
''She is not Jealous except to preserve
certain treaty rights" the Chinese replied
In conclusion. Wong expressed the hope
that Congress would accord justice TO his
people. The Chinese appreciated the fact
that this Republican Government was bet
ter IN all essential features than the one
they had left behind them. Here he struck
another lead Of unalloyed eloquence and