The San Francisco call., 1897-08-22
A BITTER
FIGHT ON
MISSIONS
Chinese Slave-Owners In
augurate a Vigorous
Campaign.
HEAVY FUND RAISED FROM SLAVES.
Unfortunate Girls Compelled
to Furnish the Sinews
of War,
A MASS.MgETING OF M0NGOLIiNS.
Missionaries and Members of the
Chinatown Squad to Be Under
the Ban.
MASS.MgETING OF MONGOLIiNS.
Missionaries and Members Of the
Chinatown Squad to Be Under
the Ban.

The slavc-ho!ding Chinese residents of
San Francisco, or as they are better known
in Chinatown, the Housekeepers' Associa-
ton, is putting on pold front and have
declared war on those white people who
have interfered with their business. From
all appearances 1t is to be war 10 the
knife and knife to the hilt, and to get the
necessary sinews a levy has been made
upon all the inmates Of the houses OF ILL
repute.
The first shot in the war was the suits
filed by Yuck Ying and Chin See and Lee
Pock Dong against the workers of the
Methodist Mission, charging them with
illegal detainder and assault. These sui S
grew out of the rescue of the slave girl
from Spofford alley, who was mimi
dated in the City Hall by a crowd of
Chine Sc as she was on her way to the
courtroom on writ of habeas corpus.
The second shot came by the way Of
Washing ton in the shape OF letter OF in
structions TO Collector Jackson telling
him 10 refuse access to papers in all
Chinese cases 10 every one except the
Chinese Bureau of the department. This
is possibly the result of the action taken
by the Housekee pers' Ass ssoclation as fore
told in THE CALL several days ago, when
that association threatened to have the
interference stopped through the Wash
ington authorities.
At the mission 70 knowledge was had
regarding the suits as no papers had been
served. The workers there are in no ways
alarmed over the matter, especially as
the two plaintiff, in one of the cases are
now under bonds in the police courts 10
answer the charge OF keeping a minor in
house ofevil repute, ana il can be fully
esta biis he'd by the testimony OF other
girls who came with Yuck Ying from
China that she is under lawful age.
Last Wednesday night there was mass
meeting OF Chinese held in a restaurant
on Dupont street where a plan of cam
paign was made and il was determ ined to
tightthe matter out now and forever put
stop 10 the interference with the business
Cf the slave dealers and other law. break
ers in Chinatown. Reports were received
from men who had been to see lawyers
and they said that the lawyers agreed 10
stop the missionaries from rescuing girls,
and also TO set authority 10 arrest the
lad les whenever they went into any of the
houses for the purpose Of looking after
the welfare OF the girls. Not only this,
but it was stipu ated that the lawyers
would see 10 it that petition would be
gotten up and sent to Washington that
would have more influence than the one
that is now being Clrc uiated asking Pre.i-
dent Mckinley to interfere.
Tue association WAS well pleased with
this report and at once decided to accept
the offer, and in order to raise ths neces-
sary amount of money to carry on the
war it was decided to make levy OF 81
month from each slave woman in the
houses Of evil repute in Chinatown. A
collector was appointed to get the money
from the owners of the houses, and it Is
said that this will mean fund of between
$500 and $1,000 month that will be at the
disposal of the slave-owners to assis. them
in their hight.
1t was also reported that the lawyers
would prevent the promiscuous raids OF
the Chinatown squad and prevent the
officers of the City from interfering in
these houses, as we'll as prevent them from
entering the gam bling-rooms which -four
ish all over that section Of the City under
the guise of clubs. 1t was decided to pre-
fer charges against Sergeant Perrin and
the members of the squad, especially
Officers Duke, Conlan and Meriditb, and
if possible have them removed from the
force. If this could not be done then a
strong effort was to be made to have them
changed to some other part OF the City.
While this active work is going on
among the law-breakers and defers of
authority, and while they have openly
delared war upon the Christian workers
who have devoted their lives to the rescue
of sIave-girls, there seems to be great
apathy among the churches regarding the
welfare of the people who are fighting for
the cause of Christianity in the heathen
stronghold of the City. One lady who has
devoted her life to the work and who
lives in Chinatown. yet who is connected
with none OF the Missions said yes
terday:
at is very strange that in all the
churches in ,his City there is never
word said in the pulpts about the work
among the heathen right in the midst OF
the City, while scarcely Sunday passes
that the people are not requested to give
mething to aid the foreign missions. l
know that we are prone to overlook sins at
our doors and think those at distance
demand our attention, but here is case
where there are number OF people light
ing against the worst of sins, yet they re-
ceive neither moral nor financial aid from
the very People who nave SO much inter-
est in the matter.
1.-The Chinese siave.owners are working
night and day to put stumblin e. blocks in
the way of the workers and have now
gone so far as to sue for heavy damages
and have raised the money for the prose-
cu,ion Of the fight in most vile way, yet
we hear nothing from the churches of
their raising fund 10 help out these
ladies in the fight they are making for the
cause of Christ. II the law-abiding citi-
zeDs, the Christian citizens, really mean
what they profess, now is the time for
them to show 1t by helping make this
fight"
~o0Dx.,o1H pvruE c0vHn