The San Francisco call., 1901-11-21
People of Pacific Coast Unite to
Ask Re-enactment Of the
Exclusion Law.

ALIFoRNIA to-day will declare
III in no uncertain terms her oppo-
IL sition to Chinese immigration.
~ The Geary act. under which at
present Chinese are excluded from
the United States, expires in the early
part Of 1902 and a State convention will
meet this afternoon in Metropolitan
Temple TO renew the fight that under
twenty years Of exclusion has been slum-
bering.
Chinese exclusion is to-day the para
mount issue on the Pacific Coast. All the
resources Of Chinese diplomacy are at
work TO secure the withdrawal of the
barrier of exclusion. In washington Min
lister WI Ting Fang has made his pres
ence felt, while in San Francisco the main
center of opposition, Ho Vow, the Chinese
Consul General. has sought by the aid OF
Oriental diplomacy to bring the people
around to his way Of thinking.
Although for twenty years California
has not been called upon to publicly ex-
press her sentiments on the question of
exclusion, the spirit that actuated the
men who drafted the first act burns
strong among the delegates. The old
slogan-"The Chinese must CO." is as
potent to-day as it was when the people
first rallied to the cry. Conditions are
somewhat different in the political world,
but the economical conditions that govern
States are the same
Opposition to Chinese Immigration
In the Constitutional Convention that
met in Monterey in 1S49 California de-
clared herself in no uncertain tones
against the Chinese. In the legislatures
that followed the same course was pur-
sued. In 1865 the Burlingame treaty was
ratified and hordes of Asiatics invaded
California But the fight was not lost.
The Legislature OF the State sent Philip
A Roach and Frank NJ. PiXley to Wash
ington to fight for exclusion. These COM
mlssioners laid the foundation stone of
the present law. Roach took with him
the text Of bill which afterward formed
the basis Of the Geary act Scott Of Penn
sylvania sponsored il for a time, but the
holes that the United States Supreme
Court knocked in the measure were so
many that new measure became neces-
S2ry.
Geary. in the full power of his young
manhood. jumped into the breach and dur
ing his meteoric career in the House of
Representatives succeeded in securing the
passage of the present law. Although de-
fectiVe in many points, it has subserved
its purpose ana will form the basis of a
new law, 10 be presented at the coming
session of Congress. AS a tribute to the
work done by Geary he will probably be
elected permanent chairman of the con-
NentiOn
Some regret has been expressed that
Governor Gage, unmindful of the duty
serious condition of affairs, should have
expressed his intention of being absent
from the convention. Governor Cages
''slaD" at the people of the State. whose
interests ne was elected to conserve, will
he more than offset. however, by the
presence of the Governors of adjacent
States. who are alive to the interests OF
the people.
Voice of Labor Will Be Heard.
One element that will assume a promi-
nent part in the convention is that repre-
senting labor No body Of men is more
interested in the outcome than the labor
ers and mechanics, for year after year the
Chinese have been invading the various
lines of trade. Labor therefore feels that
ii has just grievance and the men repre-
senting the trades unions Will speak fully
their minds upon the question.
The convention viii be one of the most
representative ever held in California
From Oregon to the Mexican line from
the Nevada and Arizona boundaries to
the T-aters Of the Pacific Ocean. delegates
will attend. Every class interest every
business industry embraced within the
confines Of the State will be represented
United States Senators Perkins and Bard
Will attend with several Congressional
Representatives of the State
The convention will undoubtedly tax
the limits Of the Metropolitan Temple
The seating capacity of the hall is in the
neighbOrhOod Of 1900 but the list of dele
gates apprOac ches that number. The or
ganizaticn Of the convention will prob