The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-01
THOSE ATLANTA CHINESE.
Test Case of Kan Joy, an Ac-
treSS Arrested in Los
Angeles.
LAWYER RI0RDAN's POSITION.
Collector of the Port Wise Is Closely
Watching the Progress of
the Matter.
LAWYER RIoRDAN's POSITION.

The test case or Kan JOY, one or the
Atlanta Fair Chinese actresses, and who
was arrested by Inspector ]. D. Putnam in
Los Angeles, promises to develop into
controversy of unusual interest, as the
Chinese company which imported the 200
and more exhibitors for the Atlanta Ex-
position propose to stand upon the literal
wording of the resolution passed by Con-
gress in January, last year, which allowed
them to come into this country.
A preliminary hearing has just been
had in Los Angeles. and United States
Commissioner Van Dyke has taken the
matter under advisement. Attorney
Thomas d. Riordan, who has been retained
by the Chinese company because of his
knowledge of Federal law, defended the
girl there and has just returned to this
City. Kan Joy is only Is years of age, and
Inspector Putnam says she was sold to
highlander for $4,000. 1t seems that the
Federal authorities did not discover that
che was one of the Atlanta Fair actresses
until after her arrest, and that they are
now trying to make a strong case of what
at first appeared an insignificant matter.
Mr.. Riordan made defense of the girl
in Los Angeles which almost staggered
the prosecution. United States District
Attorney Denis being in New Orleans at
the time the Government was represented
by Assistant United States District At
torney Findlayson. Mr.. Findlayson con-
tended that all the Chinese actors should
have been compelled to go back to their
native country when the Atlanta Fair Ex-
position was over. Mr.. Riordan took adj
vantage of this weak argument by show
ing to. the commissioner just how the
| resolution of Congress read.
The three resolutions of Congress pro-
viding for the admission of exhibitors for
the Colum bian Exposition, California Mid
winter Fair and Atlanta Exposition, re-
spectively, are substantially the same.
They prohibit the importation OF alien
contract laborers and expressly declare
that the alien contract labor law of Feb
ruary 26, 1885, and the acts restricting
Chinese immigration shall not be so con-
strued as to allow alien laborers to enter
this country.
All the resolutions contemplated, ac-
cording to Mr.. Riordan's Interpretation,
was the admission of the exhibitors and
their servants for specific purpose and
stated period of time.
Under the resolution of January d. 1895,
the Atlanta Fair Chinese were given the
privilege of remaining in this country for
one year after the close of the exposition,
and certificates were issued to them ac-
cordingly to cover that period of time.
Mr.. Findlayson, it is thought, somewhat
perverted the pTOVlSO Oh bQo TeSOiuIlOH
which was evidently added to the reso-
luton for the express purpose of exclud-
ing all aliens not connected with the At
ianta Fair aggregation. The meaning of
the proviso is that no other alien laborer
should be permitted to enter the United
States unless expressly permitted to do so
by the Secretary of the Treasury, and that
any aliens admitted by such special per-
mission would be subject to all the pro-
visions and penalties of the alien contract
labor law.
Mr.. Findlayson tried to convince the
Commissioner that under the proviso the
Atlanta Fair people should be deported in
accordance with the spirit of the alien con-
tract labor law, but Mr.. Rlordan showed
that the proviso did not say any such
thing; that on the contrary the very OBJ
ject of the resolution was to confer special
privileges On the Atlanta Fair exhibitors
and employees, and the proviso was ap-
pended purely for the purpose OF keeping
out all other alien laborers, that is for the
purpose of preventing others from ship
ping in under the resolution.
Collector of the Port Wise is closely
watching the progress of the case. Speak
ing of it he said yesterday:
The point is, Have these Atlanta Fair Chin
csc changed their status? In my mind. the in
tention of Congress in adopting the resolution
was to extend the privilege only to bona-fide
exhibitors, and that this privilege was to con-
tinue only 80 long as they remained exhibitors.
On the other hand, Mr.. Riordan argues
that the very feature of the resolution
allowing the exhibitors TO remain here a
year after the exposition closed is evidence
that Congress intended that they should
stay here long enough to recoup them
selves for any expenses of travelling and
losses they might sustain in coming TO the
Atlanta Fair. The well-known attorney
for the Six Companies observed, as he
comfortably seated himself in his new
offices in the Safe Deposit building yes
terday:
Mr.. Findlayson tries to argue that the reso-
luton OF Congress contemplated the sending
back of these people soon as the fair was
closed. And why? Just because they are
Mongolians. Nothing is said about the Da-
honey village and the South Africans So tar
as they are concerned they may enjoy the full
benefit of the resolution, but it is TO be alto
gether different, IL would seem, with the Chi
nese. Now, / believe the resolution means
what 1t says, and propose to make my fight
by standing upon its exact meaning.
Sixty more Chinese actors arrived in
Chinatown yesterday, ranging all ages
from 10 to 20 years. They were escorted
to the Washlngton-street Theater from
the ferry landing by Tong Ching, the
agent OF the Atlanta Fair Com pany.
Their leader, Kue Wong, said they made
plenty of money in New Orleans and Los
Angeles from the performances they gave
there.