Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-19
WANT CHINESE
TREATED BETTER
MASS MEETING EXPRESSES
ITS OPINION
Would Not Throw the Door Open, but
Asks That Those celestiaIs
Now Here Have More
Privileges

In accordance with an organized
movement now on foot among the
churches of Southern California, a petit
tion tending toward a less rigorous en-
forcement of the Chinese exclusion laws
will be circulated within a few weeks
During the past six months a strong
pro-Chinese sentiment has been en-
gendered among several churches, cul-
minating in resolutions favoring
changes in the present laws. which
resolutions were passed by the Baptist
convention at Gardena, and later by the
Congregational convention at Clare
mont In the line of the same move
ment a mass meeting was held at the
First Congregational church of this
city last night, at which strong speeches
were made by Rev. F. S. Forbes and
! f. s. Yager. Resolutions will be pre-
sented before the Baptist convention
when 1t convenes at the Temple Baptist
church the earl part OF next month,
and supporters of the movement expect
to get great deal of help from that
body.
Within ten days it is expected that a
petition will be ready for circulation
among the people of Southern Califor-
mia, asking for greater leniency in the
treatment of the orientals and this Is
to be sent to congress when next that
body assemblies.
Not "Open Door"
| 1--WE do not advocate the open door,"
said Rev. Mr.. Forbes last night, but
! only fair treatment for those Chinese
| who are now in this country. Our
treaty of 1880 with China grants the
subjects OF that kingdom all the rights
and privileges of the most favored ma
ton, and this treaty our present exclu.
Ginr q wv viola tn in 1qtfar and Sririt
There seems to be a movement on foot
to deprive the Chinese and Japanese
of the right to earn an honest lAing.
Attorney r. s. Yager was even more
outspoken in his condemnation of the
existing laws. He declared
l "A Chinese before a United States
Judge or commissioner has no more
chance than Jesus Christ before PLATE.
If China, with her 400,000,0 900, were as
hostile to us as we are to her we would
soon have more trouble on our hands
than we could manage in the Philip
pines. We would not dare to treat the
subjects of another nation as we have
the Chinese. Congress has violated al
most every provision Of the treaty by
passing the exclusion laws, and 1T is
time that they were made to conform
to that treaty" 4t
At the last session of congress a
senator from Vermont introduced res
olution tending toward the amendment
OF the exclusion laws, and this will be
brought up again in December.
Points Of Petition
The petition soon to be circulated
embraces the following points:
| 1. Any Chinese who is rightfully In
the United States shall have all rights,
privileges and protection accorded the
citizens of the most favored nation.
2. Any Chinese in the United States
who intends to make his hcme in this
country shall be permitted to bring his
wife and children here.
Under the present laws this cannot be
done, and supporters of the movement
claim that 1t is because of the families
back in China that the American celes-
tials send so large part of their earn
| ings back to the old country.
3. The present exclusion laws should
be so changed that the class of Chinese
who are entitled to come here shall en-
ter with less hardship and delay.
A. The exclusion laws shall be so
changed that after Chinese has been
in the United States three years or
more, or has a certificate regular on it's
face. that the burden of proof shall be
placed on the United States government
4 to show that he is unlawfully here; or
| when he receives a certificate from a
United States official and said Chinese
has committed no fraud in connection
with his entry, his certificate shall be
conclusive evidence against the United
States government.
s. In view of the fact that If a
Chinese escapes from one jurisdiction
he may be tried in any other jurisdic-
ton, we ask that the bail should not
exceed $500.
g. We ask that the exclusion laws
shall be so changed as to be In har-
mony with our treaty with China.
Apropos of the fifth section, It is
urged that the present bond required
of Chinese is $1,000, which must be
signed by an American, Chinese mer-
chants bond not being accepted.
BY the laws of Great Britain, a
Chinese can become a citizen of Canada
or a British possession after certain
length Of time, and while the new or
ganization does not suggest that, they
o.a A., faxyo,. ne more liberal treatment