The morning call., 1893-09-16

the jurisdiction of the courts and beyond the
reach of Congress. AS the constitution pro-
hibits ex-post faeto legislation the entire Chi
nese population of the coast would be answer
able to the courts, which might II so inclined,
let them 20 on their own recogniZance.
Mr. HOughtam's suggestion was the
spark that kindled the fire, and before
twenty-four hours had passed the leaders
of the trades assemblies had informally
talked the matter over and decided that
the workmen of the Pacific Coast should,
collectively and individually. see that the
Geary law was enforced and that the hea-
thens now usurping the places of Ameri-
cans should be brought within the jurisdic.
tiou of the courts as the law provides.
1t was first proposed to call a meeting
of the executive council, hut as Friday
night was to be regular meeting night
and an open one at that, it was decided to
wait until then. But in the meantime the
leaders were not inactive. Anxious to
have the movement popular one, they
spoke to several men who are at the head
of large commercial houses and from them
received Endorsement of tho contemplated
action.
Financial aid was offered and a sugges-
ton made that they start a subscription
list. so that everybody can contribute a
sum toward ridding the coast of the Celes-
tial tuberculosis.
The plan of campaign adopted by the
trades is this: Every laboring man be-
longing TO an organization on the coast is
asked to obtain The name and address of
as many Cinnamon as possible and send
the same to the committee. These names
will be turned over to an attorney. who
will first ascertain If they are not regis
tered and then proceed TO secure warrants
for their arrest.
The great labor that will be required to
carry out the plan necesstates the en-
ployment of an attorney who will be able
to attend to no other business. At the
same time it was decided that the courts
should be made TO recognize that the cases
were begun in earnest and were not mat
ters to be trifled with. So the leaders Of
the movement thought it best to employ a
firm OF lawyers of high standing, one con-
sisting of men whose words are authority
on the coast. and to employ young attor-
ney to attend TO the routine work. The
trades wished to secure the services OF the
firm of Reddy, Campbell & Metson. and
their desires will probably be gratified.
Patrick Reddy was asked yesterday il
he would act in such a case. and a bypo.
thetical one was made to him.
"Of course" said he, 81 cannot answer
the trades in formal manner unless a
formal request is made. The plan pro.
posed is good one. l have long wished
to fight in the courts under.the Geary law,
and should be delighted to render my as
4
committee from the trades comes here and
asks Us to act as associate counsel we
would accept. Our pathy is with them,
with the labor movement. and their plan
of action is perfectly feasible. In case we
should be retained we would need to APP
pear only when some technical question
comes upf for argument Ayoung attorney
could attend TO the routine matter"
The trades have decided to spend all the
money necessary to attain the desired end,
and they desire the assistance of all citi-
zens. The litigation will not be very ex-
pensive, as it has been decided TO pay an
attorney a salary TO conduct the court
routine, and the calls upon the time of the
well-known law firm referred to will not
be frequent.
The proposition is simply to bring every
Cinnamon within the jurisdiction of the
Federal courts, thus rendering it impossi-
bic for an act of Congress to prevent their
deportation. That wise provision of the
constitution providing that no post facto
law can be passed will now guard the
laboring men Of the Pacific Coast in their
action. Once arrested John Chinaman
must be tried under the Gsary law. and
as the Supreme Court has decided the act
constitutional the Celestial is bound to be
deported in time. A legal halter will be
bound around his neck and he cannot
escace.
The hostile attitude of the President
toward the interest of the Far West has
caused this decisive action, and the cases
will be pushed. 1t is believed that the
Judges of the Federal courts will do all in
their power to aid the enforcement of the
law and strong effort will be made to in
duce the United States Com missioners to
issue warrants as we'll. Marshal Long
will, of course, have more than he can
handle when the movement is on, but the
lawyers say that he can and will appoint
enough deputies to carry out the provisions
of the act.
Letters will be sent to-day TO labor or
sduiZdtiOuS III cacIdlneu'o, LUIS Aueeles
and other points in the State. asking that
the workmen there lend hand. The
miners Of the Northwest will be asked to
join. Indeed. all the labor organizations
of the country will be appealed TO to at
least give their sympathy to the cause.
With the law carried out as it stands to-
day on the statute books, ii is figured by
the trades that every white man in Cali
fornia would be given employment. The
labor organizations that last night decided
upon the action about TO be taken deplore
the violence attempted in the interior and
counsel their members to proceed under
the law as here stated.