The San Francisco call., 1897-08-15
Congress to Be Asked to Re-
move the Law From the
Statute-Books.
ALL CHINAMEN ASKED TO DONATE.
Evasion Has Become Too Costly anC
Tiresome and an Easier Method
Is to Be Tried.

After struggling for years to evade the
exclusion act, which prohibits Chinese
immigration, the subjects of the Celestial
Emperor in this country, aided by high
officials in the Flowery Kingdom, have de-
cided that the tim has come to make a
concerted movement looking to the repeal
of the act which discriminates against the
people OF one nation and denies to them
the privileges tn at are accorded the sub
jects of all others.
For several weeks it has been known
that agents were in this City and State
working up a mbership for a society,
which has for its main object the repeal
of the law which is causing so much
trouble to the Chinese, and which has
doubled the price of slaves brought to the
United States. The movement was started
by prominent merchants, who have
nothing to do with the matter of cheap
labor, yet who feel that their business in
terests greatly suffer because of the exclu-
sion law. The agitation has been going g
on for more than a year, and has at last
been so effective that the society is not
only we'll organized throughout the
United States, but the epreseEtatives Of
the Chinese Government at Washing ion
have received instructions to further the
movement to the extent of their ability.
The prime mover In the matter is Wong
Chin Foo, whose headquarters are at Chi
cago, and who is the acknowledged head
of the society. He sent out circulars and
agents TO all the cities of the country
where there are number of Chinese, and
calls upon all faithful subjects of the En-
peror to join in having the obnoxious law
repealed. The circular is very voluminous
and recites The many objects of the So
ciety, which is ostensibly for the purpose
OF bettering the condition of the Chinese,
but which has Tor its ultimate object the
opening the doors of this Nation to all
who may desire to come in.
After reciting the various wrongs which
have been heaped upon the Chinese in
consequence of adverse laws and calling
attention TO the fact that Chinese have no
protection whatever in this country, and
that Chinese merchants suffer greatly be-
cause of these adverse laws, the circular
says:
The cause of all this trouble to the
subjects of China is the law which places
us beneath all other people, and prevents
that free and perfect commercial inter-
course which is granted to all other ma
tions.
lit is our duty, as true and loyal sub.
jects, to do all in our power to have this
most obnoxious law taken from the books
of the United States, and thus place US
again in the position which we formerly
enjoyed, OF being on an equal footing with
the subjects of all other nations. In oId-r
TO bring this about it is necessary for all
people OF our race to com bine together and
make concerted effort to have this great
injustice done away with. In order to
bring about this result it is necessary for
large amount of money TO be raised to
meet the expenses OF such work, and all
who desire to 10 their full duty to their
home country should become a member
of the society, and SEND to the central
office their names, with 81 so as a mem
bership fee.
at is well known that in order to have
laws changed it is necessary to spend
large amount OF money, and while the
Government OF China is trying to bring
about the desired result much work re-
mains to be done by our people who are
here. We have received assurances that
our Minister, Woo, at Washington will do
all in his power to aid US, and has already
received noti6cat ation from the Celest tiaI
Government to make the necessary efforts
In behalf of the movement, and use his
influence with the Government at Wash
ington and member of the Senate and
House OF Representatives in order to bring
about change of sentiment in regard to
our people.
at is hoped that the repeal of this
most unjust law can be brought about
during the session of the Congress which
will convene at Washington in Decem Der
next. and it will be necessary for all loyal
Chinese to give all the aid in their power
in order that such representatio MS may be
made to the members of that Congress as
will convince them that the Injustice
should be stopped and our people ac-
corded all the rights now enjoyed by all
other people"
At the Chinese consulate in this City IL
was said that nothing was known of the
society or of the movement. The answers
were very diplomatic and most pro.
found ignorance seemed to prevail as to
what was to be done in a matter that has
so much of interest to the whole Chinese
nation. This was partly accounted for by
a merchant, who said that International
matters were handled entirely by the
delegation at Washington and the Consul
General here would not be taken into the
secret until the Chinese Governme mt was
prepared TO act.
Among the Chinese merchants the con-
tents of the circular were well known and
the general opinion prevailed that the
time had Gems for this Nation to cease its
persecution of one nation. They claimed
that the movement was entirely peac efui
and the effort would be to sh6w by argu-