The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-30
BY ARBITRATION.
Local Chinese Laundrymen
Settle Differences.
Two Rivals in Business Called to
Time By Their Countrymen.
The Chinese Visitation Aroused Considerable
Curiosity In Lorraine District Last Night.

unobtrusive and quiet of residents, and
never meddle with their neigbbors. II
occasionally they indulge in little fam
tan no one Is the wiser, and II one of the
Celestials happens to drop the profits of
one weeks washing at o sitting he does
not have the place ''pulled," but only
works the harder the next week to accu-
mulate sufficient to get satisfaction at the
next sitting of the club.
1t is not generally known that the Chi
nese laundrymen in this city have q labor
organization, but their actions yesterday
would indicate that they have added this
to the general fund If information they
acquire 80 rapidly regarding American In
stitutions. BE this true or not they do
not have any parades or strikes, possibly
that every laundryman 10 . proprietor is
responsible for this.
An incident occurred yesterday, however,
that was departure from the general run,
and attracted considerable attention to
this class Of foreign business men In our
midst. 1t appears that Wang Moy and
Quong Lee are rivals In business, and the
competition between them has been Of Late
~
Mineral Spring avenue, Mr.. Quong near
him ON the corner OF Fenner street. A cut
rate war was inaugurated . short time ago,
and oent by cont the rate on laundry work
descended until both men were doing mp
shirts with or without glazed finish for
cents, and collars and cuns 1t the rate of
one cent each. One thing, however, they
both maintained, and that was q cash
80 ><4,x<r q AI<,.
with your ticket yJu were obliged to wear
puff scarf or "dickey." II you lost the
ticket, and were known to the proprietors
of the rival lsundries, you could obtain
your wash by placing your signature to
paper that might have been promissary
note for q S1O00, or Q mortgage ON your
home. These established rules of the trade
were nQ* departed from, and no calendars
or eol6 watches were offered as induce
ments for custom. 'e e'7~F,
Apparently the cutting process In
prices had reached rock bottom, and the
other Cinnamon in similar lines began to
notice depression in business, which
they at first attributed to the election of
Mckinley, but one fine day laundryman
happened to pass the rival muslin foun-
dries, and the matter was explained. The
business which they had lost was being
diverted to other channels. A conference
was held, which assumed the proportions
of an indignation meeting, and yesterday
afternoon a meeting was held at the laun-
dry of Wah Sang, who apparently did
some singing for the result was that about
dozen Cinnamon left the establishment
soon after, and wended their way In the
direction of Mineral Spring avenue
Owing to the prominence which Wah
Sing has attained by being the victim of a
hold-up on Saturday night, he led the pro-
cession. The column proceeded by twos
much to the astonishment of the small
boys, for it Is a rare sight to see more than
two Cinnamon together. The laundry of
Quong Lee was first visited, and an ami
mated conversation followed. 1t is to be
regretted that the conversation cannot be
reported as 1t would doubtless give an in
sight into The manners and customs OF
this strange race. However, Quong ap-
parently did not see the matter In the
light in which 1t was laid before him, and
declined to do anything In the matter Of
restoring union rates. The committee
paid Wong Moy visit, and were more
successful, for he agreed to raise the price
to the limit, il his rival would take similar
action.
Before this decision was reached, how
ever, there was lengthy argument. After
obtaining their purpose the Cinnamon re-
turned to see Quong and another exciting
time took place. Some Of the passers by
thinking a riot was imminent sent for
Officer Sword, but the matter was only
warm discussion relating to the war cloud
over Europe, at least that is supposed to be
the subject of a conversation which had
aroused all the Cinnamon out Of their
customary apathy. Finally Quong took
down his reduced price list, and quiet
once more prevailed among our Mongolian
inhabitants.
II is only fair to state that Messrs. Wang
Moy and Quong Lee are not connected by
any ties with either of the two well known
families bearing that name in this city.