The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-28
TONGS
AND THE
HATCHET 7
Chinese Are Form.
ing Highbinder
Unions.
PLANS TO TAKE
SOCIETY'S PLACE
Troubles With Bow Wongs May
End Old Oriental Or.
ganiZation.

@ BE YUPS other than the merchant
class. have organized a tong, and
now the only element needed fer
the starting of a highbinder war. ac-
cording to the most approved plans d
the Pacific Coast celestial. is a cause
for action and some nerve on the part
of the actors. While there are some
merchants who believe there is no 9TH
er purpose behind the VI Yee Tong,
which opened It's quarters at Maunakea
and Hotel street last evening, the MEM
bers of the tong say 1t is simply ben
eficial association.
The vi Yee Tong starts out with
room on the third floor of the building
at the place named. and the adjoining
sleeping and card rooms, which go to
make up the most approved club. The
membership is principally of cooks and
some OF the workers of other trades.
though the domestics predominant.
They are. according to their own
words, bound together to take care of
the sick or poor of their race. The
members who were enjoying them-
selves at the club yesterday denied that
there was any oath or pledge to make
the fight of a brother a general one,
and they insisted that it was only the
beneficial plan which was thought of
in the bringing together of the See
Yup young men at this time. T
The tong starts off we'll, though the !,
fact that there are few of the members
who want to say anything about the 1
order rendered it impossible to get hold
of names or numbers. One member es-
timated that there are 100 men in the
tong to start it of, and that the fur
nishings are all paid for. as are the
expenses OF the Inauguration OF the
work.
There is a second meaning given to
the tong by some of those who very
eagerly deny that there is any inten-
ton to create highbinder society out
of the innocent appearing beneficial
league. 1t Is contended that the real
reason for the organization is that the
cooks and house boys of the city are
desirous of forming labor union on
the basis OF the other labor unions of
the city, and the form taken has been
this tong. That 1t Is composed only
of the See Yup boys is said to mean
simply that the Sam Yups have now
tong, known as the Fook Lun, which
Is composed OF the laborers from the
three provinces. just as the new body Is
of those from the Jour.
The organization of this tong has re-
newed a rumor that there Will be no
regular reorganization of the United
Chinese Society. but splitting up of the
Chinese OF the city into tongs. for the
purpose OF taking care of the very
same objects which are aimed to be
accomplished by the United Society
This course has been talked of for some
time and the opponents of the consul
have threatened 1t as the last resort
There are several trades which might
be organized into tongs in case the
course is decided upon, and these would
leave to the merchants the same old
San Francisco problem of keeping the ,
good will of all the tongs by paying
them to keep the peace.
Among the Chinese who discuss the
matter OF the tongs getting a foothoid I
here there seems to be a general i'm
preston that in the absence OF means ,
of getting away from the islands IN
hurry. there will be little done with the
hatchet While members OF the VI
Yee Tong say they are all good boys. !
others dwell upon the fact that there ,
is too great danger OF being caught TO
induce any OF the tongsmen to take
up a battle. 1t Is alleged among the
however. that the con- !
ciusion OF the differences between the ,
Bow wongs and the Consular party ,
would mean rather a fight than
peaceful ending.
The ins of the United Society Will 1
hold their meeting with the merchants :
soon. and there should be little time
lost in bringing up their contest over
the Treasurer's decision u