Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-10
WILL OBEY THE LAW.
A Democrat" Reporters Knowledge OF
the Chin Sc Language Brought Into


A Democrat" Reporters Knowledge OF
the Chin Sc Language Brought Into
Play. "'
The Chinese of Waterbury are about to
comply with the law regarding registra-
ton. Photographer Adj has taken photo
graphs of several of the Celestial laundry
men and many of them are busy to-day
going around among their friends showing
the proofs and asking opinions as to how
they look. The work of the pho
tographer is good, but he has not sue
his new and in most instances unwilling
customers for John would much prefer
turning his money to some other account.
A reporter of the DEMOCRAT interviewed
several of the prominent Cinnamon to-day
to ascertain their views on the matter.
His knowledge of the Chinese language
was of incalculable benefit to him in Sc
curing the desired information. Thomas
Kee, who conducts a laundry at III East
Main street, received the reporter cour-
teously and said in broken Eughsh: Eyes,
we have been notified by United States
Deputy Marshal Warren to comply with
the law and we are now
making every preparation to do so. Some
of our people have already been photo
graphed and several others will so IN at
once"
do you believe in this business, asked
the reporter.
NO" said he, as he he piled his fiat
iron along shirt bosom, Il do not be-
lieve in it, but l have no intention of re-
fusing to comply with it. [ have made
application for naturalization papers and
intend to live to this city and obey the
laws the same as other people do. Why
then should we be treated as suspicious
characters by being obliged to send our
pictures to the government in order that
we may be detected the more
easily should We ever commit an
ofTense.' He thought if all the
people in this town who are likely to COM
nit some crime or other before they die
should be compelled to send two pictures
to the United States authorities the diff
ferent photographers around town would
be doing rushing business all the time.
The reporter then called on the proprietor
of the laundry at 407 East Main street and
learned that the proprietor and
his help have complied with the law. Sam
Wah, the proprietor, laid down his pipe
and took great pride in exhibiting his
proof to the reporter. The pictures are of
the usual size, taken with the head and
shoulders, and it is just as impossible to
tell one from another as it is to tell two
Cinnamon apart, and the mystery is how
the government can use the pictures as a
means of naturalization. The name over
the door of a Chinese laundry is not always
the name of the proprietor, and on this
account it is difficult to get the laundry
mems right names.
The proprietor of the Wing Lee laundry
on East Main street said he did not wish
to be understood as saying anything
against the law, and thought it much
e sier to comply with its requirements
than to oppose them One of the laundry
men who did not wish his name used said
he thought it was a good job for the man
who takes the pictures, but as means of
identification he did not think it worth
one cent. If he died tomorrow, he said
his friends could put another countryman
of his in his place and defy the authori-
ties to tell the difference. There is no
regular organization among them on this
matter. Each man is acting for himself
and intends to comply with the law