The San Francisco call., 1909-10-08

but its authenticity is voched for by
men OF integrity in position to know
the facts. He is also quoted in the
Manila Cablenews as having said:
Il am satisfied that the executive
department Of the government had
authorized the turning over of these
alleged criminals TO the Chinese con-
sui general. The reasons which led to
this authorization are not known to
me. and L can not say what they were,
but am sure that those who Octed had
The best OF motives. Assuming for the
sake Of argument that this action was
III advised, il has been done, and the
Chinese government has rid this COM
munity OF persons with criminal rec
oros, and the police are relieved OF sur
Nelllance Of them and lives and prop
erty OF law abiding citizens are safer.
To criticize the action now is only
10 criticize the officials who tried TO
serve the public. and to defend ndi-
fectly the criminal conduct of citizens
of China, which is recognized by the
highest Chinese officials here"
Chinese Consul Explains
Oflcial denial has been made that
The Chinese government had any hand
fn the matter. s. c Chang, the Chi
nese consul general at Manila, was
party TO the plot. but it is stated that
he was without orders from his home
government. The following explana-
tion was given by the consul general:
"A number OF bad characters, mem
bers OF various tongs. had for years
been castin gdiscredit upon the Chi
nese community OF Manila. which as
= whole is composed Of honorable, law
abiding people. Their overt acts of
1awlessness became so noXious Of late
that the Chinese chamber of commerce,
always solfcitous for the good name
fror rnc~ia1
aroused by the possibilities Of a con-
tinuance Of that state OF affairs, com
municated with the chambers of COM
snerce OF Annoy. Canton and other cities
with view of bringing the matter 10
the attention Of theI government at
Peking. The authorities there acted
promptly by requesting the Philippine
government 10 remove the principal
trouble breeders.
Gable advices from China 10 Manila
repeat the denial Of the statement that
The Chinese government was in any
way party to the kidnapping. In
fact il is stated that the government of
China viii interpose no resistance
should the deported merchants seek to
return 10 Manila.
In answer to the contention that the
deported men were Objectionable char
acters the Cablenews has this to say:
Had the men been the hardened
criminals they are represented il is
doubtful whether the sum total OF their
crimes would have been as reprehen-
sible as the violence that has been
done 10 the fundamental principles of
The American government by their kid
naping. There was a time when the
United States fought a war to deter
mine the right or a foreign power TO
demand that its one time subjects resi-
dent in the United States be delivered
up 10 IT without due process Of law
The incident has occasioned bitter
feeling in Manila. The papers there
have divided on the question. One of
The supporters OF the commission in its
action is the Manila Times. edited by
Martin Egan. formerly newspaperman
or san Francisco. Egan occupies
prominent position in island affairs and
is said TO be slated for 4 place on tse
commission. The Manila Cablenews.
on the other hand has taken the view,
as already indicated. that the deporta-
zion was a high handed proceedings
without the slightest sanction in law.