New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-02
CHINATOWN To STOP
IT'S OWN GAMBLING
"Too Much; No More After
Monday" Says Chinese Mer-
chants Association Head.
REAL CLEANUP THIS TIME
Oriental Spies Get Evidence
Which Is Placed in District
Attorneys Hands-Tong
Treaty TO Be Enforced.

A genuine cleanup" such as never
before happened in all its career Is
promised for Chinatown next week.
The Chinese Merchants Association
composed Of the substantial business
men of Chinatown, has decreed that
gambling must stop.
There is more to the cleanup" than
the fat of Merchants Association.
Through the visit of Lee Frank, of the
Merchants Association, and ten other
Chinese TO Aaron j. COlnon, Assistant
District Attorney, yesterday it became
known that for weeks the Chinese Mer-
chants Association has been gathering
evidence against gambling houses.
Having come TO the conclusion that
gambling was at the root Of all evil
in Chinatown, and suspecting that IN
spite Of the treaty signed by the Hip
Sing Tong. the on Leong Tong and the
Chinese Masons before Judge Foster IN
May, gambling was increasing, the
Merchants Association sent out spies
TO gather evidence.
Such a proceeding as Chinese setting
out to get evidence Of gambling against
their own countrymen. irrespective or
tongs. was unheard Of. Perhaps that
was why the plan was so successful.
Lee Frank has turned over 10 Mr..
Colnon aftidavits against a dozen
gambling houses made by men who
swear that they entered the places and
engaged in gambling. The ten Chinese
who accompanied him yesterday were
prepared to give evidence against a
half dozen other resorts. Application
will be made for warrants on Monday
The places against which the Chinese
Merchants Association is proceeding
are scattered through the territory OF
the two tongs. Some are on Pell
street and others are on Mott. That is
taken as the best possible proof that
the Chinese Merchants Association is
acting in good faith IN an effort to up
hold the treaty and is not guided by
tong politics.
TOO much gambling said the
taciturn Lee Frank yesterday. Co
ing 10 stop IL on Monday"
The action Of the Chinese Merchants
Association is strictly IN accordance
with the provisions of the treaty signed
in May which stipulates that the as
sociation is to be the arbiter OF diff
ferences, and If il is shown that the
law has been violated it is To aid in the
prosecution Of the offenders.
1t is believed in the District At
torneys Office that If this policy is car
ried out the death blow will be dealt 10
the tongs, which have subssted largely
upon tribute levied upon gambling
houses. At any rate. the Chinese Mer
chants Association has ii in its power
to cut Off that source OF revenue and
leave the tongs only their peaceful
mutual benefit" purpose.
So far as the records Of the District
Attorneys office showed yesterday
there has never been successful pros
ecuti5n of a strictly Chinese gambling
house. The nearest approach 10 IL was
when Mock Duck. the Hip Sing gun
man." was convicted of possessing poll
icy slips.
In the old days when gambling
houses and tong wars flourished there
were frequent raids by the police OF
the Elizabeth street station, but there
were rarely any prisoners charged
with gambling and If they were so
charged il was found impossible 10 con-
Wet them. When the police broke in
they would find a table Uttered with
buttons and perhaps a longing crowd
Of innocent Chinese smoking peace
fully. The buttons meant nothing to
the magistrate, and II WAS never pos
sible TO find tho proprietor Of the place.
After such a raid the police consid-
cred themselves lucky II they sue
ceeded in frding one or two Chinese
armed with revolvers AMI in breaking
up tables and chairs.
The method taken by the merchants
association is far different. The evil
dence already is in the hands OF the
District Attorney. All that remains is
to arrest the proprietors II the pro-
prietors seek safety In flight they may
be indicted and brought back and in
any case will find IT impossible TO re-
turn TO Chinatown.
-o----