The San Francisco call., 1899-09-17

Chinatown, there would be more care ex:
ercised with the rights and feelings OF
Chinese"
Mr.. Parke in conclusion admitted that
his Americanized name was not alto
gether translation from Chinese: II he
were in China his name would be Len
has adopted the surname Robert out
right and contracted his family name to
HIS middle initial, using. the Chinese sur
named Parke as a Christian name. He has
a brother who is a seaman on the United
States steamer Albatross who is also
native son. He declares the native sons
nearly all Of them wore decorations of
American colors, and one of the most
treasured possessions of the parlor are
three shells taken by Dye He, member
of the tong. from one OF the Spanish
craft at Manila shortly after the battle.
Dye being on the Boston and having
taken part in that battle.
Certain of the municipal authorities,
however, do not take kindly to this san
guine project of Mr.. Parke's OF register
ing ing that they Vote 1T opens the door"
said Registrar J. Steppacher, -" to end
less fraud and something will certainly
tempts the onslaught on the registration
books which he is said to contemplate.
Who can tell who is a native born Chi
nese and who is not? There is no dis
tinguishing between the two. Some whom
l know to be native born have never as
sociated with whites, and they under
of those born in China speak our Ian
guage quite plainly. If we could be salts
fed with the statements OF the witnesses
we know that for tricks that are vain,
the heather Chinee is peculiar
~ will sax hGTIever" err sa sGHtingsd the
of the Chinese natives who have regis
tered thus far are improperly registered
or that the. witnesses have stated any
thing but the truth Last year we had
only six Chinese on the books. This
year, thus far, and since this movement
began, we have nearly forty, and they are
still coming in. AS long as there are no
frauds connected with 1t we are all right,
and. as ! have stated, we know of mono
thus far.
Gavin McNab said the theme and tho
situation were entirely new, and required
the most careful consideration. He had
no doubt the Chinese vote would be a
vote the sentiments of their leader. He
thought the man who could implicitly
control the polling of a thousand votes
would be the strongest political force in
reckoned with in every move made either
in city or State politics The favor of
that man would in 1896 have placed Cali
ifornia in the Democratic ranks and
changed eight votes from Mckinley to
Bryan In the Tilden-Hayes contest this
change would have elected Mr. Tilden
Mr. McNab did not think that this inf1u-
ence, resident in a single individual, was
at all healthy from the standpoint of the
common veal. The theory upon which
the franchise is granted is that its exer-
else shall express the Individual inde-
pendent sentiments of the voter. In the
case, however. of men who cannot speak
the English language and who must have
everything political translated for them
by their confdant and leader, this indi-
viduality cannot in the nature of things
be manifest. As to what legislation
might be devised to meet the condition
Mr.. McNab was unable to suggest, but
his opinion was that it would have to be
effected through Congress.
Still ANOTHER view was entertained By
a wirepuller who had been doing poll
cal chores through the region just be-
yond Chinatown for some years past.
Them lads, says he, 'is full regulars.
You'll see them bloods goin round hero
presently eatin' ginger an smokin' Of the
best China-made cigars Wots in the box.
The patriotism in their get-ups don't
of profit. Do you 'spose that guy Parke
is goin to colonize all them votes for
mere sport? Not much, he ain't-he's
smooth: He'll have this BUNCH of votes
or Crimmns an say, See here wot I've
gotr 'Wot'll yer take for emp Buck'u
ask 'Wot'n you gimme?' will say Parke.
on the ticket? an It'll be a go, an ther
native sons will be in 1t way up to ther
necks.
rect In his hypothesis or not, certainly
the possession of a thousand votes win
repose a power in their holder sufficient
at least to make him respectable, If he
desires to be so. Those votes would have
been the balance of power In a dozen
offices in San Francisco at the last cleo
ton, and 1t cannot be doubted that in
city where the counts are as close as In
San Francisco the man who can influence
the casting Of such number of ballots
viii have the deciding Of the fate of many
S'An'' % '' JOIN 3. BENNwrn