The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-17
GEARY EXCLUSION ACT.
Chinese in United States to Work For
It's Repeal


New York, June 1.-THE Tribune says:
The Chinese inthe United States are pre-
pairing for an organized fight to obtain
the absolute repeal of the Geary exclu-
sion act at the coming session Of con-
gress. The movement was started in this
city early in the week and it is expected
to spread rapidly to Philadelphia, Chi
cago, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco
and other cities having large Chinese pop
ulations.
A powerful organization has been eff
fected among the Chinese merchants Of
this city. Within the next two weeks
every one of the 200 Chinese here will be
asked to sign a carefully prepared
memorial to the United States govern
ment asking that the exclusion act be re-
pealed. The memorial viii protest in the
strongest possible terms against having
the act extended for twenty years from
the date of it's expiration in 1902. 1t will
be forwarded to the government along
with similar memorials prepared in other
cities, through WI Ting Fang, the Chi
nese minister at washington.
An effort will also be made to obtain
the support of thousands of Americans
whom the Chinese believe are opposed to
the exclusion act. The Chinese realize
the handicap which is placed on the
movement through their lack OF suffrage.
Their strongest hope of eventual success
lies in WI Ting Fang They say that it
was on his advice that they organized for
the struggle. They depend largely upon
his personal popularity to get them fight
ing supporters in the senate and the
house of representatives.
No stronger evidence that the Chi
nese are in earnest could be offered
than the fact that they have started
weekly newspaper in this city for the
purpose of arousing the Chinese to ac-
ton agSinst the exclusion act. This pa
per recently published the text of the
OF mr.
the bill which Congressman Julius
Kahn of San Francisco, intends to
bring before congress and which pro-
vides for the exclusion OF
Chinese until 1922. Through
its influence a movement similar to the
one just started here win begin in Chi
cagO next week
The memorial to congress will de-
mand the absolute repeal of the exclu-
sion act on the grounds of fair play
and as a sort of reciprocity for the OPP
ening of Chinese ports.
Commercial benefits which America
would derive from granting free com
munication with the Chinese will be
point strongly pressed
Another thing which has given the
Chinese hope that public and official SEN
timerlt is about to turn in their favor IS
the stand whirh the United States has
taken in dealing with the allies in the
Chinese crisis. The present movement
would have begun year ago had Inc
boxers remained passive When the
legations were beSleged IN Eek1n the
Chinese in the United States almost
gave up hope. The clearing OF the war
cloud and the subsequent show of in
terest in the development of their father
land have given them new ana strong
er hope. The offer which the United
States made to the powers to cut the
indemnity in two made favorable I'M
preston on the Chinese
Chow Tszchi, consul general at this
port holds daily conferences with the
big men of Chinatown who are pushing
the propositions. The wealthy chinese
merchants association-Top Sing Hong,
as they call it's giving active support
and its president. NIoy Ping Fun, is one
Of the most active workers
Chow Tszchi in an interview said.
MY people like this country very much
and feel that they have been misunder-
stood. They want to settle here, CUT
their hair as 1 have done. and adopt
American customs. As it is now they
have no right to become citizens. Yet
your exclusion law only partially ex-
cIudes. You keep out the reputable
class, who would not come into the
country by underhand methods Every
time | go into the Chinese quarter see
new faces. How do they get there2
They have ways of getting past the ex-
pensive chain of customs and Chinese
officials which your government keeps
along the boundaries. With the exclu-
sion act repealed this expensive serv-
ice would be entirely done away with
There are many parts OF your coun-
try which are unsettled and a great
deal Of land that Americans can never
cultivate with profit. / have inhuen-
tia1 American friends who live In the
southern states. They have asked me
why the Chinese. who are the best
plantation workers, can not be induced
to settle in the south and help develop
the country. My reply has invariably
been that the Chinese are not allowed
under the exclusion act to settle in the
south or in any other part of the coun-