The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-22
THE VOICE OF CALIFORNIA.

~ the convention which assembled in this city
X yesterday the voice of California on the ques
- ton of Chinese immigration will be expressed.
So far as the State itself is concerned such con-
vention needed Public sentiment on the sub
ject formed long ago, and no considerable body
of citizens has found any reason for change Of
opinion. 1t is the common judgment of men of all
parties that unrestricted Chinese immigration would
be the evil that could befa this section of the
Union, and accordingly all are agreed that rest-ic-
ton is absolutely necessary for the continuance Of
prosperity and the maintenance of our standard of
living
Such being the prevailing opinion of our people,
the chief aim of the convention is to affect Eastern
rather than Western sentiment 1t is to make mani
fest to Congress and to the East generally that the
people of California resolutely opposed to I'm
restricted Chinese immigration, and set forth the
reasons for that opposition 1t is right and fitting
that such convention should have met for had there
been such formal and emphatic expression of pub
lie sentiment members of Congress might have con-
cuded that Caifornians Indifferent to the issue
and no longer regard it as one of paramount mpor-
lance
From time to time The Call has directed attention
to the increasing strength of the proChinese senti
ment in the East and the South. WI Ting Fang, the
ably of the most astute dipomatists of the day.
has been making wellconsdered appeals both to the
Eastern and the Southern public. To the one he has
suggested that repeal of the restriction laws would
result immediate increase of Eastern trade with
China, with consequent increase in the profits of
Eastern manufacturers and merchants; while to the
Southerners he has suggested that cheap Chinese
labor would aid them in the task of cultivang their
fields and also in building up their manufacturing in
dustries. The appeals were not made in vain, and for
some time past it has been evident that WI Ting
would have strong support in his efforts to get rid
of restriction.
The situation looked dangerous until it became
generally understood that President Roosevelt favors
a re-enactment of the restriction measures 1t will
not do for u.s. however, to rely wholly upon the po-
tency of the Presidential influence with Congress
men. The fight is ours and we must take leading
part in it. Many who as yet undecided upon
the issue will look to California for guidance since
the people of this State have had fuller experience
IN Chinese immigration than the people of any other
1t may be counted certain that the expression of
opinion By a California convention will have more
weight with impartial men than similar expression
by any other convention that could be held in the
country.
The voice of California on the subject will not be
to hope for from the development of vast trade be-
tween the United States and China 1t is we'll under
stood here that must look to the Orient for a
market for much of the product of our industries and
intelligent will favor any radical scheme that
would tend to interfere with the development of that
trade. In her recent troubles China has found the
United States to be almost her sole friend among the
great powers We have no designs upon Chinese
territory, any thought of committing aggression
upon her people. We afford rich and abundant
market for Chinese products and can supply her
people better terms than any other nation with the
manufactured goods and the fruit and wheat thew
need Consequently between ourselves and China
there should be but the friendliest relations
but such relations could not continue if an unre-
stricted immigration of Chinese disturbed our labor
market and threatened to produce on the Pacific
Coast a race issue worse than that in the South