The San Francisco call., 1905-08-28
EXCLUSION ACT
THEIR SUBJECT
Chinese Talk to Countrymen
at Washington-St Street The
ater on Restriction Law
HEARERS ATTENTIVE
L. X. Kentwell Of Honolulu
and Ng Poon Chew, Editor
of Daily, Deliver Addresses

~
An interesting object lesson on the way
in which the local Chinese have been
stirred up over the agitation in China
against the exclusion act and the con-
sequent abortive boycott of American
goods, was furnished yesterday at the
Grand Chinese Theater In Chinatown.
1t had been advertised that L. X.
Kentwell. of Honolulu, whose father was
an Englishman and mother native of
China, would address the citizens Of the
Chinese quarter at the theater at L
O'Clock on the exclusion law agitation.
At the hour named the place was packed
from gallery to pit with expectant Chi
nese males. There was not a woman
present. Their absence was taken by
Kentwell an indication that the
Chinese women in San Francisco are not
as far oSvanced as their sisters Of Homo
lulu. who have broken down ancient GUS
tom and attend such public gatherings
freely.
Kentwel delivered quite lengthy ad-
dress in the Chinese language, and was
followed by Ng Poon Chew, editor of
the Chung Sal Vat Po, a Chinese local
newspaper, who has the full art Of the
orator and who delivered a rafting ad-
dress. During both Of these speeches not
Chinaman left the theater, and instead
of the phlegmatic attention that one
would have expected, the liveliest inter-
est was shown and laughter even, rang
out whenever either of the speakers made
what the hearers deemed witty point.
NOT HERE TO MOLLIFY.
Kentwell showed clearly that he was
not here to mollify the Chinese In their
attitude against the exclusion act or
to help change their opinion that they
are receiving unjust treatment. He said
in part
The greeting OF westerner to Western
audience is ladies and gentlemen; i.ny ana my
OF China in America suppose many OF you
were born here-I greet you one and all, This
is my first attempt 10 make an address, there
fore ask you beforehand your Indulgence. My
talk will be on the exclusion act. Through its
operation in Hawaii since annexation the Chi
nese people there merchants and others) has
suffered heavy financial losses. Ill treatment
under humiliating rules and regulations has
been hsaped upon them by the Federal imml-
grafton officials. Prior to February IA, 1908,
before the establishing of the Department of
Commerce and Labor. the local customs off,
cfals had hand at it. OH they were de-
lighted to humiliate and insult a Chinaman or
a person of Chinese dissent.
Forty years ago the Chinese first came to
Hawaii, which then undeyeloped coup
try, and through their labor Hawaii progressed
Times were good and everybody prospered when
the chinese labOrerS were permitted TO come 10
Hawaii, but year or two after annexation
people began to wonder why business generally
was getting bad. 1t is now worse Why so?
Because the Industrious and reliable Chinese
laborers who the backbone of agricultural
Hawaii have been driven away from what for
merly was friendly and hospitable country.
of the United States by and through the op-
GRAFTON of the exclusion act. Prior to annexa-
tion Hawaii had over 10000 Chinese; Mn ,t,. ana TO-
law is the cause Of this decrease. An act of
Congress of 1855 provides that no Chinese la
borer in the United States shall be permitted,
after having left to return thereto, except un-
der certain conditions, one of these being that
no such laborer shall be permitted to return
unless he has property of the value Of $1,000 or
a lawful wife-who. I suppose. is worth only
thousand dollars to a ChInaman. according
to the American idea Now Chinese iaborer
States or in Hawaii therefore the law has the
desired effect of barring him out altogether.
SPEAKS OF HARDSHIPS.
The thousand dollar clause and the property ..
qualification imposed upon him are further !
1t is very seldom that Chinese
laborer goes back to his native country with
more than few hundred dollars-the earnings
of several years. perhaps, and to require him
to property of the vaIue of $1,000 in the
United States in order to be permitted to re-
turn after visit is to say to the Chinese la
borer. If you go. you go for good" Why is
this law made only for the Chinese laborers,
laborers of all other nationalities are
permitted to go and come as they please?
law is unjust omitted to state that the
right of Chinese laborer TO return Is limited |
TO one year-another hardship So the de- |
crease OF the Chinese population in Hawaii
and this country is due to the enforcement of
this unjust law.
The exempt class of Cinnamon under the |
treaty is permitted to come to the United |
States also under certain conditions-those of
being photographed, evidence of identity etc. |
Even from Hawaii, which is part of the United |
States Chinese are Disseminated against
even those exempt. Chinese merchants have |
left in considerable number. America does not |
want Chinese yet she wants the trade of and the
open door in China The boycott is the result |
of Americas hostile attitude toward China |
and her people. She Is the only nation that |
Is against the Chinese. China desires the |
of America. modification of the |
exclusion act should be made or an absolute |
repeal. general immigration law is what |
China ought TO demand
Ng Poon Chew told his hearers. that II I
the exclusion law is not repealed. the |
United States should at least put all for |
eigners on the same footing and should
not humiliate China by admitting the |
of Europe while keeping the |
door closed to even clean and Industrious
Chinese
Ng Poon Chew will deliver public
lecture in English next Friday evening
at the Academy of Sciences Hall on the
exclusion law.