The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03

Declares America Does Wrong to
Keep Out Young Students and
Merchants of His Country.
SPEAKS WITH FRANKNESS

His ExceIlency. Wong Kai Kah who is
In this country as worlds fair commission
er from China to the St Louis exposition.
addressed an audience at the Commercial
Club last night, the occasion OF reception
given in his honor. He discussed TRADE
Relations with China" and his talk was
very interesting to the business men who
heard him. Mr.. Wong was educated in
America, and has great respect for this
country. He believes a mistake is being
made by Americans, however, and his talk
was replete with a satire that was, keen
and cutting.
At the outset, however, he said he wanted
it understood that he addressed the club
as personal friend and not as an official
representative Of his country. Mr.. Wong
believes that the Chinese exclusion act
should be considerably modified. He thinks
it should admit the Chinese merchant who
comes over here to trade He said Amer
lea could send one hundred or one thousand
travelling agents to China in the interests
of different lines of trade and they would
not accomplish what is desired. The Ger
mans and the English and other nations
are on the ground all the time and have
been for years, and they understand ali the
conditions and will do the business, he
said Mr.. Wong's plan would be to permit
the Chinese merchant to come here to sell
his goods and after he has done he will
invest his money in American wares and
take them home with him. Chinese
merchant will come with 100000 worth of
silk, a product that is needed i'm this cOun-
try, and will probably take back with him
an equal amount of goods.
KEEP OUT COOLIES.
Mr.. Wong advises America to keep out
the coolies and idle classes, but to admit
the merchants and the students and those
bor for nj 10 oil at-
tention to that feature of the Chinese ex-
clusion act that only permits young men
to come here to study when they seek
knowledge that cannot be learned at home.
Mr. Wong believes this feature of the act
is very harsh. He makes the point that
Americans. instead of sending missionaries
TO China might accomplish more by allowing
the young Chinese to come To this country
and be educated here while attending school,
live in Christian homes. Il was educated in
a New England home" said he, land | feel
that the home life of this country is the
pureSt | have ever known.
Mr.. Wong was rather sharp in his criti-
csm of the custom house agents who block
the way of the Chinese when they attempt
TO enter the gates of the United States.
He believes that much money could be
saved by this government by sending men
of sound judgment to China and allowing
them to decide there who is TO be allowed
to land on these shores. He would have
these government officials kept there, and
have passports issued there, so that when
a Chinaman arrives at San Francisco or
New York he will not be subjected to in
sulting questions from immigration officers.
He told a story of a Chinese gentleman
who sailed across on boat that bore a
large party of Americas exclusive set. The
young Chinese was received in the cabin
and on the upper deck with great cordially
and even sat I'm the great American game
of poker with American gentlemen. When
the boat reached San Francisco and some
of the party was leaving 10 go ashore they
called 10 the Chinaman: Aren't you com
ing with us?' they said. No, said he
sadly, and with an air of humiliation, Il
can't come now; 1t is necessary for me to
wait TO go through certain formalities that
required.
Mr.. Wong described how the young man
was then pushed about by the custom house
officers and bullied and brOwbeaten. Could
Mr.. Wong make some changes in the laws
of this country one OF the first things he
would do would be to have the exclusion
act accept Webster's definition of the word
student" He would widen the exempt
class and so long as a Chinaman should
not come here to start a laundry or COM
pete with American labOring men. he would
be allowed to come. He will not come here
TO take your money away" said Mr. Wong
but he will come TO give you money. And
by that way you will get better class of
Chinese
At the close of his talk Mr.. Wong said
he desired to apologize 10 his hearers if ne
had been Overfrank. He was applauded at
intervals while delivering his address and
warmly applauded at its close. Hugh III
Hanna. who was present. followed Mr.
Wong in brief speech on the invitation OF
President Gavin. Mr.. Hanna said the lesson
brought out in the speech he had lust
listened 10 was the most practical he had
ever heard.
William Fortune suggested that the uues-
tions presented by Mr.. Wong were worthy
OF further consideration by the club and
he moved that committee be appointed to
make some Investigations along the line of
Mr.. Wong's remarks and report 10 the club
The committee viii be named later MIR
Wong personally met large number OF the
members OF the club and exceedingly
affable IN receiving introductions.