Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-17
CHINESE TONGS
UNITE FORCES
WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO
END BLOCKADE
HAVE DECIDED ON ORGANIZING
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Want Gambling Protected, as National
Pastime, but viii Assist in
Stamping Out Trade
in Opium

Discouraged because so many of
their countrymen have left Los An
geles, only 500 now remaining out of
former population of 1000, Chinese
residents of the local Chinatown are
casting about to find some method
whereby the Objectionable blockade,
which has been maintained by the po-
lice department since last April, may
be lifted and conditions made such that
the men who have left the city will
be glad to return.
With this object in view a number
of meetings have been held by the
leaders of the different tongs which
have headquarters in Los Angeles, ana
prominent members have about de-
cided to call off all differences and pull
together for the common welfare.
1t has been decided to organize
chamber of commerce, carried along on
the same lines as American associa-
tions of similar nature and headed by
officers chosen from among the best
educated and most conservative OF
Chinatowns citizens.
1t will be the duty of these officers
to settle all disputes which arise among
their countrymen, to aid the needy
and assist any Chinese who may be-
come involved in trouble with the au-
thorities. This does not mean that the
new association will protect law
breakers, but rather that the members
will aid the police in every way, simply
standing by a countryman until sucn
time as they are convinced he has done
wrong.
There Is now a Chinese board of
trade, but the new organization will be
put entirely distinct from this associ-
alton and its duties will be along diff
ferent lines.
Would Protect Gambling
According to prominent Chinese. who
have been mentioned as probable Off
GERS of the new chamber of commerce,
efforts will be made to have the city
council pass ordinances protecting the
Chinese in many of their pleasures.
These men state that gambling Is as
much a part of the Chinese life as is
going to the theater with Americans.
They say that if gambling is prohib-
tied Chinese will not remain here, and
it is their intention to ask the mem
bers of the council to pass an ordl-
nance permitting them to run games'
for Chinese only, under police super
vision, and declare that If this is al
lowed officers will be permitted to
enter the gambling rooms at any time.
If the council agrees to the request
the Chinese say they will aid the au-
thorities In stamping out the opium
trade in Los Angeles. Intelligent Chi
nese know that the opium habit has
had a great deal to do with holding
the race back and thev are willing to
cooperate with the police in stamping
it out.
Large quantities of opium are
shipped to Los Angeles weekly, and
many of the prominent Chinese know
where this opium comes from and VINO
II flAxy
to give this information to the police
providing the ordinance allowing them
to gamble is passed.
The blockade, which is still being
maintained by the police and which
was organized during the recent tong
war scare, is one thing to which the
Chinese have made serious objection.
They say the tongs are now peaceable'
and that they are quite capable of con-
trolling any unruly member or hatchet
man who may wish TO start trouble.
Frequent efforts have been made to
have this blockade raised, and Chief
Kern has been appealed to times
without number in this regard.
While the chief admits that 1t is
improbable there will be any further
difficulty with the Chinese, for the
present at least, he recognizes the fact
that so long as the officers remain
there the Chinese will have to be good,
while If the watch is taken OH SUD-
denly trouble may spring up at mo-
ments notice.
At present every Chinese who enters
Chinatown Is closely watched and If
the police believe he Is armed he is
Immediately stopped and searched.
So far no mayor of Chinatown has
been selected, but efforts are still be-
ing made by the tongs to get together
and choose some man agreeable to all:
1t is probable one will be selected
within the next few weeks.