The San Francisco call., 1897-10-23

ment Saunders had no right 10 admit
them. The United S ates Commissioner
ordered them Geported. They appealed
to Judge Hanford, and in tuat way the
case came up for a hearing ana Judge
Hanford rendered the decision that has
created so much stir"
The best lawyers in this city who have
followed the case very closely believe
that Judge Hanford's decision is good
law, and If 1t goes to higher court Will
be affirmed. They say it is in line with Z
decision OF the United States Supreme
Court, appealed from San Fran cisco by a
Portland Chinese merchant. whose home
was in the United States and who, upon
his return from visit 10 his native and,
was refused admiItance by the San Fran
cisco authorities because he did not have
the certificate from his home Government
provided for III the exclusion act. The
lower courts ordered him deported.
He appealed and the Supreme Court
ruled in his behalf, holding that the CHI
nese Government could not certify that he
was merchant and legally entitled to en-
ter. Judge Hanford holds the same rule
applies 10 the children. If the Chinese
Government cannot give the certificate to
the father because ii does not know any
thing about him II cannot give d certIti-
cate TO his children for the same reason. F"
w. II. White, Bryan National Com
mItteeman from this State. who has for
years figured in all the big Chinese cases
tried in this section of the country, said
tonight that Judge Haniord decision
was undoubtedly the law. He thinks that
Congress never intended that he wives
and children should be kept OUT of the
country. Government officials, he says,
have been laboring under deIusion ali
these years. His contention is that Con
gress Il enactlng these sections requiring
the certificate from the home Government
meant hat the certificate should be OBJ
tanned by Chinese who are making their
hrst IMP TO the United States, and who
are legally entitled TO enter.
There IS a law on the statute books of
the United States, which saws that if the
Collector OF Customs refuses a Cninaman
or Chinese woman admittance an appeal
may be taken 10 the Treasury Depart
ment, bat the courts are not permitted to
interfere. Ii Judge Hanfori's decision is
ignored the Chinese population In Amer
iCa may be held down; but it Is claimed
that II IS not the custom OF the Govern
ment authorities TO ignore the rulings of
tie United States courts. Consequently
there Is only one thing for the Govern
ment 10 do. and that is to have the United
States Supreme Court say il Judge Han
ford S holding IS legal. If it is. q new law
VIII have to be enacted. But for the pres
ent the very important section OF the
great exclusion act, which says that Chi
nese other than Chinese merchants must
have certificates from their home Govern
ment in order TO enter this country stands
mass of punctures placed there by Judge
Hantord's opinion.
The organized laboring element of the
city is just awakening to the importance
Of the decision. and Will probably at early
meetings call upon its representatives in
Congress to Grge the enactment OF a new
law by Congress.
W. H. Middleton, ex-secretary OF the
Western Centrai tbor Union said to-
night that organlZed labor will act at
once. D. NJ. Mccartney. one of the most
Intelligent labor leaders OF the Northwest
stated that he had carefully followed the
case and the decision. ut means, in nv
Judgment" he said, 'that the gates of
this country have been thrown down 10
the Cinnamon, and until we have a new
law the Cinnamon may come in by whole
sale"