The San Francisco call., 1908-09-29
UNCLE SAM fROWNS
ON PLURAL WIVES
Millionaire Chinese Formally
Barred From America on the
Ground of Polygamy
Two Women Suffer Humiliation
Keenly and One Is Made
Seriously Ill

Henry Thomas Bosnian, in spite of
his millions, in spite of his serious i'll
ness. and in spite of his friendship for
Presidential Nominee William H Taft
has been formally denied the hospi-
tality of San Francisco. He was told
by a board of immigration examiners
yesterday afternoon that according to
the faw he can not be permitted to
4 land here. An appeal was Immediately
made to the authorities at Washington.
/ D. c., through Bosman's attorney, but
unless their decision differs from that
of the immigration commission in this
city the Hongkong merchant, with his
two wives. his children and his retinue
of five attendants, will be obliged to
return at once to the orient.
The discovery that polygamy is con-
sidered a crime in the United States,
and that the fact of his having two
wives has caused their husband in
convenience and annoyance. has
brought great misery TO the two
women who bear Bosman's name. Their
own discomfort at being detained on
shipboard. after the strain of a long
voyage, and with the city and its COM
forts in sight, they make light of.
1 have heard that in America IL is
very easy for married people TO have
trouble said Mrs. Margaret Bosnian,
the older of the two wives, yesterday,
with weary little laugh at the joke,
and now L believe it. 1t is bad
enough for the children and ourselves,
for we have been counting the days
until we could get on land again, but
1t is breaking our hearts to have my
husband under this strain. We packed
to come to America with only a few
days notice. his health suddenly be-
came so bad, and never dreamed that
our plan of travelling until he was
better would be so upset.
My cousin and I were both raised
IN Hongkong, where two wives are
often seen in one family, and it does
seem too bad to have this trouble now.
We wanted to get DR.. Herzstein's opin-
ion, because he has twice before been
most successful in treating Mr.. Bos-
man.. and then we meant to travel
slowly from place to place, Just as Mr..
Bosnian liked"
The two women are devoted friends.
the elder soothing and comforting the
younger yesterday as her mother
might have done The latter is quite
III from the shock
Victoria, the eldest child. who with
her year old brother Edward has be-
come a great favorite on board, was as
bewildered as her elders over the
event
why can't we come and see you in
San Francisco?" she said wistfully.
yesterday I'm Hongkong we are al
ways glad when people come to see us.
and we do so want to see the streets
and the shops, after being so long on
the ship. Can't we all go on shore. so
that mamma and cousin Margaret
won't be unhappy any more?"
Five younger children are in Hong
kong, the youngest being a baby of
only a few months a governess, Miss
Catherine Hartshorne; an East Indian
masseuse. Kitty. two maids and a man
servant accompany the Bosmans.
The family is one OF the wealthfest
and most hospitable in Hongkong.
where Bosnian, until he retired a few
years ago, operated some of the larg-
est real estate interests in the country.
Both the women and the children speak
perfect English and have the air OF
cosmopolitans.
On the board of immigration exam
liners that decided against them yes
terday were Thomas Crawford. D. ].
Grimths and Miss Madeleine Lssack.