Chinese Attempts to Weaken Exclusion Law Opposed by Workingmen's Union

When the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, Chinese leaders in 1900 countered by easing their restrictions affecting immigration of merchants. However, the Workingman labor unions voiced strong opposition to any relaxation of restrictions fearing that opening the door a little would lead to a large influx of Chinese merchants or Chinese claiming to be merchants.

“The workingman remembers the days when all a Chinaman had to do as to swear that he owned an interest, no matter how small, in a Chinatown store and his right land was established.  They call attention to the fact that under those circumstances the carrying capacity of the steerages of the Pacific Mail steamers was taxed to the utmost to provide accommodations for the “merchants” who were flocking into California. Business houses were established in Chinatown for the express purpose of standing sponsor for the “merchants,” and it is a matter of record that some firms had as many as 200 members. Attention is called to the fact that agencies were established in China where “merchants” were schooled in the answers they must give touching their qualifications to enter the United States. The federal courts were clogged with habeas corpus cases of alleged Chinese merchants and the two court commissioners were kept busy taking evidence.”