Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-12-01
THE SIX COMPANIES
AwEALTHY AND POWERFUL CHINESE
CORPORATION.

Guards the Rights of All the Celes-
tails In This Country.
When It comes to organization the
Chinese could give the politicians cards
and spades and win out. The PROOF OF
this Is the Chinese Six Companies,
whose province, however, ID not 30
much political as social and CONNER
cial.
The original purpose of the Chinese
Six Companies was the mutuai protec-
ton Of the Chinese in their journeys 10
and from America and sending nome
for burial in ancestral tombs the bones
of those who died here. The purpose
has broadened, however, until To-Day
the Six Companies act officially IN all
affairs of moment for the Chinese peo-
ple in America. To understand tne
necessity for such a society one must
take a look at the Chinaman at home.
In China the most important politicai
and social institution is the clan or
ganization. Family trees in China are
deep rooted and many brancheo' anu
almost any Chinaman's genealogical
record dates back twenty-five to n1ty
generations. Indeed, twenty-five cen
turtles is what some claim.
The descendants Of common ances-
tor form a clan They cluster together
IN a village or district, calling one an
other cousins, but are not allowed to
intermarry on penalty of death. Among
the people of clan every man over
sixty years is an elder, regardless OF
his station. Only those Of the younger
men who have passed government ex-
aminations are worthy Of the distinc-
ton gained by virtue OF age.
The latter are known as kong ming,
or titled scholars, and, together with
the elders, they constitute the officers
Of the clan. 1t Is the business OF these
officers to decide all affairs OF impor'
lance for the clan. In matters OF espe,
cal interest boys who have attained
their majority-eighteen years-are al
lowed a voice. At an annual meeting
the ancestral lands are rented out tc
the highest bidder, those near by to
members of the clan, those at dis
lance to outsiders. Quarterly the OH
GERS meet to collect the rents. These
rents from the ancestral property are
kept In the clan treasury to pay taxes
and the general expenses of the clan
such as lawsuits, public buildings
roads, celebrations of births and deaths
Should a member Of the clan fall Il
nav his rent the officers demand i
from the head of his immediate family
All quarrels, disputes and unsettled
debts within the clan are settled &C
cording to the counsel Of the dtlet
scholars and elders. In case Of quar-
rel with members Of another clan L
their own member Is In the wrong TIT
officers apologize and punish the wrong
doer. Otherwise, they demand redress
from the other side The officers hav'
authority to correct Maynard youth
who disobey their parents, also to pun
ish those who sell opium in the village
or gamble with boys.
Thus the nature of the Chinese 81
Companies In this country is apparent
When, after the discovery OF GOLD u
California, the Chinese fiocked here b,
thousands, what was more natural thai
that they should organize after the Gus
tom of their country? Many OF tn
Chinese who came had never been NOR
than fifty or a hundred miles from thel
birthplaces, and to be landed alone Il
rushing, roaring, booming San Francis
co was confusing even to people witt
out pigtails. At first there was but on
society, and when ship came In tn
society sent wagons to take the imm
grants and their baggage to Chinatown
where they were supplied with room
water and wood for a month or tw
until they found work. This too
money. which was supplied by volur
tary subscriptions and voluntary taxe'
Then a rule was made whereby ever
Chinaman leaving the United State
was required to contribute an amour
which has varied from Sc to $40.
At first the president Of the societ
was chosen for an indefinite term, br
as the Chinese increased and differer
clans were represented Jealousy al
} peared. No clan was willing that
member of another clan should
president for life. 1t was not long b.
fore there were six different soc1etit
or companies representing the moi
populous clans. They were called an
2 are still known as the Sam Yup, Yun
Wo. Kong Chow, Ming Yung, Hop W
and Yam Wo.
From small beginning the Six Con
panies have become q wealthy organ
zation with a large surplus on han
which Is constantly increased by Il
: vestment. Their disbursements al
correspondingly heavy. Thay spel
; 500, 900 testing the constitutionality
the Geary act and have from time
. time contributed literally to the aid
sufferers from disaster both In CHI
and this country and to other pub
affairs here.
The fact that virtually all the O.:
nese belong to the Six Companies do
not prevent their forming simn
smaller societies in every town whet
] their number Justifes it. They mi
| have the same name as one Of the s.
e Companies, but they are purely loo
4 In character. All important matters a
! taken to the Six Companies, whose
rectors are men of affairs who undo
stand the laws of this country, empl'
American lawyers and take all respo
!, sibilites off the shoulders Of the
brethren, who know nothing OF t
laws Of the country and care less, sa
,,,haro fhov aro forced IN consider the