The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-09
TO MAKE CHINESE VOTERS
philadelphia Celestials Seeking
the Right Of Suffrage.

An Association Already Formed and
Mt WOTk-COnEreSs VIII BE Asked
10 Consider the Mntter-Nothinar
Known of Move to Abolish Queues.
PHILADELPHIA. Aug. g.-Enquiries
have been made among the Chinese set
tied in this city, based on a despatch
from Washington 70 the effect that orders
were shortly o. be issued by the Chinese
. Reform Association TO all Cinnamon
dwelling in America TO cut of their
queues. in order. Il is stated, that by con-
forming more closely to American habits
. and dress they might find their pathway
smoother in their relations with the gen
eral public Not much could be learned
on this subject. all the Cinnamon adj
dressed seemingly knowing nothing Of the
Chinese Reform Association. and dismiss
ing with an iuscrutabIe smile the report
as TO the reform in couture suggested
1t was incidentally learned. however.
that "a large number Of residents Of Chi
natown are looking forward to the time
when they may become American citizens
and voters. This end they expect viii De
accomplished at no distant period by the
influence of an organization now in Dro-
cess Of formation. which is 70 De known
as the Chinese Association. and
which has already established headq,Lar-
tiers in handsomely furnished apartments
on the second floor Of No. glS Race Street
On the walls of the main office hang
handsomely executed crayou portraits or
, Washington, Lincoln, Mckinley. QUAY.
and Penrese, while Lee Toy. who has long
been known as the Mayor Of China
town, acts as presiding genius Of the
. whole place
The object Of the association. as ex-
planned BY Lee Toy. is 10 secure. if pos
sible, such modification of the Chinese
Exclusion act as viii permit of the natu-
radiation OF Cinnamon who have resiucd
in the United States "a number Of years.
and who intend to make this country
their permanent home
There are in this section Of the CITY
alone. said Lee Toy. between 60 and
TO Cinnamon who have resided here for
Periods OF from twelve to twenty-five
and thirty years They have no inteu-
ton Of returning home. even for a visit.
ana as they are in the main Iaw-abidias
citizens, with more or less OF "a stake
IN the country. it seems TO be unjust that
they should De deprived of suffrag4. The
Chinese treaty on which the Exclusion
act was based VIII expire believe. rext
year, or the year after
one clause Of the treaty says that
. Chinese resident in the United States at
the time Of the singing Of the treaty
viii be accorded the same rights as the
citizens of the most favored nations. with
the exception of the right TO exercise che
suffrage We are AT present in CORE
spuudence with the Chinese Minister for
the purpose of learning whether this
clause would acJ as "a barrier 20 the Leg
islation We desire to secure. or whether
IL is. as We believe IL 20 be. simply an
expression of tie good viii Of the United
States toward US
The matter viii be brought before
Congress at the coming session. before
which time we hope 10 have branches OF
the association in every large city in
America = branch is already being form
cd in the city Of New York All our
movements are being directed by counsel.
and We feel reasonably confident that
Congress will pass the amendment merely
rs an act OF Justice The power to vote
viii improve materially the position Of the
Chinese in America. while 50 few viii be-
the number Of Cinnamon on whom il will
be conferred in comparison with the vot
ing population that no one can advance
as an argument the claim that the Chi
nese ~ote' viii De likely 20 influence ma
terially the policy of the country
With respect 20 the question % cut
ting on queues I know nothing. I never
heard Of the Chinese Reform Association
till now. II Is only reasonable 10 expect
however, that If our people ara permitted
TO become citizens they viii abandon the
queue and the Chinese dress The uuruC
is a distinctive mark Of Chinese national Z
ity- and while there is no penalty infict-
ed on any one who cuts IL or even should l
he return 20 China. as many Americans
suppose, such thuGman would be Re
Sarced in China much in the light I
OF a foreigner. With the granting of
American citizenship, however. I venture
% say that the queue and the Chinese I
dress viii De- renowned by most China
men in the United States"