The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-03
Looks for a Repeal or Modifca-
tion of the Chinese Exclu.
sion Law.
AN ADVOCATE OF CHEAP LABOR
He Declares That American Capitalists
Would Be Treated Fairly in
China.

vious arrangement Ii Hung Chang, the
Chinese EN- bassador, this morning re-
ceived limited number OF representatives
of the press in his apartments at the
Waldorf. The newspaper men were pre-
sented to the Viceroy by Edward B.
Drew, Commissioner of Royal Taxes in
China. The Viceroy's medical adviser,
DR.. Bark, acted as interpreter. The
! much-deseribed yellow jacket was not in
| evidence during the interview, the
Viceroy being attired in costume of
pIum-colored silk. The first question
asked was:
"Your Excellency, since you have said
so many good things about MS, we desire
to know in what respect we have disap-
pointed your
The Viceroy replied: 81 have no COM
plant to make of my reception in this
country. l don't think I could say any
thing bad about you unless it were that
you have too many political parties.
Cannot the newspapers unite these
| parties2"
"What has been most interesting to you
in American"
81 have been charmed with many things
In fact, everything has delighted me so
much that it is hard to say in which
have been most interested. The big build
ings are specially Interesting. L have
never seen such tall buildings before.
These structures of twenty or more stories
are great works of architecture. They
would not do, however, in China, where
we have so many typhoons. But have
heard that in this country you have no
such winds and that you are safe. The
elevators make them accessible"
Have you any comparisons to make be-
tween America and England 2"
mo, would not like to make any. The
Americans came originally from England,
and whatever you do here you have learned
from England. For that reason IL would
be indicate to draw comparisons"
what has impressed you most during
yourJreceptions in New York-the Demon
STATIONS of the common people, such as
you witnessed yesterday, or the attentions
shown you by the dignataries of the coun-
try2'
To this question the interpreter replied:
"The Viceroy says that he knows some
thing, but that he will keep i: to himself"
DO you look for repeal or moditica-
ton OF the so-called Chinese exclusion law
passed by our Congress in 1892? 1t has
also been called the Geary act"
81 know very we'll that you are soon to
have an election and perh APPS change in
the Government. For this reason have
not mentioned or discussed the Geary act
with your Government officials. | desire
the assistance of the press in an effort
which will be made later to do away with
this law. / know that the press is the
most influential institution in this coun-
try"
"Was the route through Canada decided
upon because of any antagonism that
might assert itself among the people of
the Pacific Coast States2"
At this point the Viceroy called for his
official interpreter, Lo Fung Lu. to whom
he made the following reply: 1.-THE choice
of the Canadian route was determined
upon for two reasons-frst, while / was
High Commissioner of the northern por-
ton of China, l received many complaints
from our Chinese subjects in this country
that they were not in possession of the
rights to which they were entitled here,
and they invoked my assistance to secure
for them full rights. Your laws here now
curtail these rights, and did not care to
go through the States where the people
had been most instrumental in bringing
about these restricting laws. Second,
while am good sailor, l am an old man,
and I have been informed that the steam
ers sailing from Vancouver are much more
comfortable than those leaving San Fran
CISCO"
Without waiting for another question
the Vceroy again turned his attention to
the Geary act. "Chinese exclusion is
most unfair. Competition is good for any
country. Competition keeps the marke Is
in healthy condition, whether this co m
petition is in the price of labor or ommod-
ity. The Geary act was brought about by
the Democratic party and the Irish people
because the Chinese are the rivals of the
IRISH Iaborers. Put aside the fact that l
am a high official and speaking as cos
mopolitan, let me ask if such a law is in
the interest of American people? Is it
| good policy to exclude cheap labor? Would
! you exclude cheap commodities2 You are
proud OF your ingenuity, you boast of your
| liberty and freedom, but there is no free
! dom of labor. ] cannot see the fruits and
| effects OF this liberty. You are not only a
people of great inventions, but you
are a country of large agricultural
resources and country OF commerce
and industry. England is purely coun-
try of industry. You make better ma
chinery and agricultural implements than
| any other nation in the world, but these
manufactures are unfortunately so ex-
J pensive that in foreign markets their sale
! is limited. This is because your labor is
| so high. If you let in cheap labor you
i can sell your goods more cheaply.
J "What inducements are offered to
American capitalists 10 invest in Chinese
enterprises?'
1.-The Chinese Government invites every
one of wealth, no matter TO what nation
/ ne belongs, 10 u OuIlla anu Invest IN
our enterprises. General Grant was my
best friend, and l shall never forget his
advice tom upon this subject. He said:
! You rust in vite American capitalists to
! China but the administration must always
remain in the hands of the Chinese Ma
ton. China must maintain its sovereign
rights l remember that advice warmly
| in my heart. American cap. talists who
may decide TO invest in China will be
| treated the same as those of other coun-
tries, but we must retain the administra-
tive power"
In reply to further questions Ii said his
country would perhaps study the English
and American educational systems and
choose the better of the two. He said
there were many newspapers in China,
| but they had no circulation to speak of
because their editors were not truthful.
The Viceroy declared with smile that
the newspaper cuts of him in this country
were very bad.
around the Worfd ia a Little Boot.