The morning call., 1894-11-12
VOTED FOR DAN BURNS MEN
Instructions Given Them b
Guides and WatChmen.
DR.. Ii Pc TAPS SON A LEADER.
Two Score Pagans Voted This Year,
but Five Hundred VIII Vote
Two Years Hence.

This years election marks the beginning
of new era in State and municipal poll
ties. An element heretofore looked upon
as Insignificant or impossible has mani
tested vitality and potency. and must
hereafter be considered as factor in poll
tics.
The American born sons Of Chinese
have commenced to claim and exercise the
rights and privileges of citizenship. What
kind of citizens they will make is not all
conjecture. They feel that they are re-
garded as hmaelites-strangers in the
land against whom every hand is lifted in
menace. They have their own rules and
regard no laws that are not approved by
the Six Companies. Their oath in a court of
justice carries little weight, and they fur
nish much more than their share of de-
Pendants in the criminal courts.
Even if this were not the case they
would still be regarded as dangerous ciii-
zens, for they would have no interest 10
the welfare of the general public, and
would fall into the hands of the bosses
This was demonstrated at the last election
Two years ago three or four Chinese
registered in this city, being three o. four
of the several hundred pig-talled natives of
the State who had the right to vote. They
were treated with scant courtesy at the
booths, and two of them were not allowed
to cast their ballots. The effort to get
in O politics was renewed this year, and
the thin end of the entering wedge was
fairly inserted.
About fifty registered, of whom forty
voled; and, with one or two exceptions,
they voted the straight Republican ticket,
as they were Instructed to do by agents of
Dan Burns and Jerry Mahoney. Several
haIi0tS hv ad
Laughlin, Chinatown guide, and Harry
Huff. Chinese interpreter, aud given
after cross had been made against the
name of each Republican candidate, to
the Monaghan keeper of a grocery and
liquor store at the corner OF Bartlett alley
and Jackson street. There the ballot was
discussed, and instructions in the art of
voting was given by white watchmen and
guides, who are on terms of Familiarity
with the Mongollans. The guides and
watchmen also protected them when they
went to the booths.
The son of the late DR.. Lii Pc Tai, who
aspres to be leader in Chinatown. was
among the first who voted in his precinct
of the Forty third District. Thirteen
other MongolianS voted at the same BOOTH
and with one exec ptiOn, if they and the
guides can be believed, they voted for the
Republican candidates. The exception
was Suey An Lee. an insurance agent,
Democrat. In another precinct the Chinese
votes were cast for SuIrO, who is called by
the irreverent pagans. "Sea Lion Bossee. -
Several of the voters were asked last
night why they rad voted for Burns candi-
dates, and answered, because they thought
these men were their friends. Other reasons
may have prevailed upon them to ally
themselves with the followers of Burns
but If such is the case they were no doubt
enjnined to keep them secret. Interpreter
Huff says that there are fully 500 Chinese
in this city who have the right TO vote, and
declares they will vote al The next election
This years work was regarded by the
Chinese as experimental, and they are well
pleased with the result.
The interpreter says that many of these
Chinese voters were born in mining camps
and are well known TO white citizens as
natives of the State. A who voted this
year were known to be Californians and
every one of them could read English. But
as no complete records Of Chinese births
have been kept IN the city or elsewhere it
will be impossible to tell when Chinese
appears for registration hereafter whether
he is native or not and election officers
will be compelled TO accept the evidence of
men 10 whom false swearing has no ter