Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-06
PRACTICE BROKEN UP
Girls No Longer Visit Chinese
Restaurants Alone.
ACTIVITY OF THE POLICE
Almost Nightly Investigations at
Chinese Establishments.
DUTY OF PARENTS POINTED OUT
Urged to Forbid Children From
Playing About Laundries as
Precautionary Measure.
DUTY OF PARENTS POINTED on,

Acting under Instructions from Mai
Sylvester, the captains of the several
police precincts in which there are Chi.
nese restaurants are having members OF
their force make almost nightly visits to
the restaurants in order that the police
may personally know If children frequent
these places. This inspection has been
in progress ever since two Cinnamon
were arrested charged with improper con-
duct toward young girls. These arrests
occurred several weeks ago, but in each
case the parents refused to allow the
girls to appear as prosecuting witnesses,
and the charges had to be dropped.
Reports made to Maj. Sylvester by the
precinct captains have been to the effect
that in none of the places conducted by
Cinnamon have any young girls been
found. 1t is true that restaurants are
patronized by young and old of both
sexes, but SO far as the police have been
able to ascertain no young girls have
been frequentlng any such places and
spending their time with the Cinnamon.
For many years the residents of China
town have kept their doors open to their
white friends, making no effort to conceal
anything but, 1t is said, some of them
have grown tired of the practice OF Ger.
tain persons having their curiosity graf
their doors to them in future.
Thought Police Would Not Suspect.
The police were freely admitted always
to the gambling rooms, the Chinese be-
lieying there would be less reason for sus-
picion being directed toward them, and
knowing the Chinese characters could
not be understood by the police. The lat
ter would be unable, they believed. to tell
lottery ticket or other gambling para
phernalia from a laundry ticket, and
might actually witness the carrying on OF
a lottery without suspecting it,
Years ago the Chinese were more open
and free with the police than they are
now. 1t was not an uncommon thing tor
the celestials to invite police and other
friends to dinner and permit them the
run of their establishments, but doors are
now locked and barred. and only China
men are ADMITTED to certain parts of the
establishments.
had been impressing upon his captains
the necessity for having their men keep
in touch with places conducted by China
men, He was glad to say. he said, that
no girls have been found lettering about
them since the arrests were made several
weeks ago.
Duty of Parents.
The police think parents have also a
duty to perform. 1t is declared that
many children are in the habit of play
ing about and in some of the Chinese
laundries In some instances the owners
of the laundries encourage such lettering.
while others will not drive away the chill
dren through fear of losing patrons. Un-
der any circumstances, the police think,
no good can come from such conduct and
parents should see that the PRACTICE Is
not engaged in by their children.
Many times during recent years, it is
stated, the police have been appealed to
by Chinese laundrymen to keep children
away from their places of business, the
children having given annoyance, and
some arrests were made. but as rule the
little people do not violate the law and
there is no reason why the police should
interfere with them.
In cases where the law is violated the
police do not hesitate to step in and take
a hand in the proceedings.