The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-23
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industry. every profession. trade and business
this convention itself 1 say, voices in most
eloquent terms the unanimity OF sentiment
which prevails throughout all our State,
among every class of our citizens concerning
the absolute necessity for the re-enactment Of
which shall exclude in the future. even
more effectively than they have excluded in
the past, Chinese and other Aslatic people from
our State and nation.
I need not expatiate upon the evils OF
Asiatic immigration TO our shores. All who
have eyes may see the blighted corrupting in
fuence which the Orientals have had on our
business interests and our commerce; how they
have degraded our labor-for American labor
never compete in the same market with
Asiatic labor and maintain for one moment Its
dignity and self respect; how the presence of
Orientals in city and State, with their de-
graded habits and practices, has poisoned the
pure springs of morality and religion, and cor
rupted by its evil influence all our social hIc
An these subjects will be dweit upon by
eloquent, earnest, thoughtful speakers and as
q result OF the work OF this convention, reso-
buttons viii be passed and measures will be
suggested which VIII be a sure guide to Our
delegates in Congress concerning the form Of
legislation demanded by the Pacific Coast for
the protection of its future.
Gentlemen, the United States District Attor-
ney's Office has had, in sense Of the word,
as much to 90 with the practical workings CT
the Chinese exclusion laws as any other depart
nent Of the Government, for since the pas
sage of the law of May 6, 1882 (the first act CT
Congress excluding the Casnese) every crack
and Granny of the lays have been probed by
skiIlful lawyers in the pay Of the Chinese 10
widen if possible the aperture so that Chi
narnan might crawl through; every link in the
chain which guarded US has been tested ana
strained to the utmost in the hope that one
link would break; every point, every qulboie
known to the law has been raised in our courts,
in behalf Of the Chinese by the best legal tai
OF Congress and find some means by which ex-
clusion might be evaded- And on the united
States District Attorneys ofhce, In all tue
years since 1852 the duty has devolved OF guard
ing in the United States courts the legal rights
Of Americans.
The experience of that office. after its twenty
inst he &
ent efforts Of the Asiatics TO enter despite the
exclusion laws, must be worth something to this
convention.
At this time it is unnecessary to attempt to
explain the provisions Of the laws passed by
Congress for the exclusion OF the Chinese.
Commencing with that of May g. 1SS2 each law
passed as time went on-that is the law OF
July 5, 1855. Of September 1S, 1883, the supple
nent to the law of May 6, 1882. passed October
i 1858, the so-caIled Geary act Of May 8. 1852.
and the act of November 3, 1893-Was drawn
more strictly and more In conformity with
strict exclusion principles than the one which
preceded It. The Geary act, or the law of May
5. 1892, continued in force and effect all laws
excluding Chinese upon the statute books at
that time and in addition the principal provi-
sion of the Geary law required the registration
might be identifed as those who had a right
10 be and remain in America under the former
laws.
The Geary act continued in force the exclu-
sion laws for ten years after its passage, so
that By the terms of this act all Chinese eX-
clusion laws will expire on Nav g. 1902. So the
question before to-day is not what the old
law was; what its merits or dement's were, its
strength or Its weakness, but what the new law
shall be. The purpose of this convention is to
consider how a new exclusion law may be
framed so as to avoid the weakness and defects
Of the old laws, and place upon the statute
books Of the nation absolute barrier against
Chinese and other Asiatic immigration.
Fortunately California is blessed at this time
with nine able. honest and earnest Congress
men and Senators, and one Of whom is perfect
II capable of framing bill which will meet
all requirements of our necessities, but still 1t
will be a source of strength and power to them
70 know that the whole State is behind them
and with them-giving them encouragement in
the battle whose brunt VIII fall upon them
when they meet in Washington the coming
winter
Attorneys office that the provisions Of the
Geary law should be substantially re-enacted in
operation Of the Geary law have demonstrated
that Improvements must be made; ten years of
through that law have shown that there are
places in II that must be strengthened, and
loopnoles that must De closed, IN order that a
perfect exclusion law shall be placed on the
For instance, it is suggested that the Bureau
OF immigration OF the Treasury Department
should be made the original judge Of the eligi-
biity OF Chinese persons and persons of Chi
nese descent TO enter the United States, and
that such bureau be authorized 10 make all nee
essary regulations to enforce the administration
Of such laws.
This OF course would not affect the rights
Of Chinese persons or persons Of Chinese de-
scent. claiming to have been born within the
An appeal from the decision Of the immi-
grafton customs officer should be permitted
10 the Secretary OF the Treasury. The decision
Of the immigration customs officer should
be final, unless reversed by appeal to the
Secretary of the Treasury.
II this provision should become a part OF
the new law, its terms should be especially
clear and strong and unambiguous, for a great
question is before the Federal courts of
this city for a decision. 1t is the question
Of the rights of Chinese in transit through the
country OF late Chinese have been coming in
large numbers, en- route TO Mexico. OF course
Nnder the laws as they are, the transporta-
tion companies required to take precau-
lions to carry the Chinese persons en- route
safely through. ant guard against their escape
while in the United States, but once over the
Mexican line all responsibility on the part
OF the transportation company ceases, and the
C'hinaman at once leaves the train on Mexi-
can soil learns a little Of language and
customs, and some dark night, aided by white
fnen who are in the business Of assisting Chi
nese TO evade exclusion, he quietly slips across
the borders and become a good American
Chinaman.
The collectors OF the ports of entry should
have the power of ruling whether the Chinese
in transit bona hde travellers route, or
whether they are merely entering the United
States to cross to the nearest point in foreign