Volume 025-1 - January 1971 (4 pages)

The various state laws affecting the Chinese in Grass Valley should alsobe briefly pointed out. The Workingman’s Party, which was organized in part because of the effect of the fall in mining stocks in 1877, had the most impact. The efforts of the party culminated in the Constitution of 1879. This document forbade all corporations from importing or employing the Chin‘ese, formally denied them suffrage, disallowed their employment on public works, and so on. Though many of these laws were later overturned by the courts, it was evident that a powerful segment in the state desired such measures, Most significant to this study are the attitudes of the Grass Valley residents during the nineteenth century, since the attitudes were a major factor in forcing the Chinese to look toward the old. A chronology of derogatory practices and views mustbe presented to provide insight into these turbulent times. In Nevada County, a trend evolved since the Chinese were not allowed to testify in court. Since the immigrant was rendered helpless by the law, robbing him became a lucrative and prosperous adventure. ‘‘They were made victims of countless plunderings; marauding parties made _ incessant raids upon their cabins with impunity, often severly beating or maltreating the occupant,”’ Further, identification with the Chinese was viewed by local opinion leaders and a large portion of the public as extremely degrading. The town newspaper took an emphatic antiChinese stand in the gubernatorial race of 1890. As a matter of fact, both candidates tried to degrade their opponent with charges that the other was trying to usurp white labor with less costly Chinese labor. Markham, one candidate, was accused of wanting to replace Irish labor with Chinese workers at a mine in the Calico district. The Grass Valley UNION echoed,‘*Miners of Nevada County and friends of white labor in all occupations what do you think of a candidate for the 6. AH CHEE, know as ‘*‘DUCK EGG”? is pictured above in Doyle Thomas photo, 1918. Sad plight of the old Chinaman was remedied in 1921 when men who had thrown stones at him in their youth rallled to his assistance and he had the distinction of having a ‘‘day’? named for him in which scores of citizens contributed to his well being. highest office in tne state who prefers Chinese to white labor?’’ In response The San Francisco Chronicle, which supported Markham, asked critics what they had to say about 300 Chinese working for the Aleutian Island Fishing and Mining Company of which his opponent, Pond, held the position of president. To be regarded as an employer of Chinese in Grass Valley was tocommit oneself to the status of a social outcast among the white community.In a notice ‘‘To The Public,’’ W. C. Jones denied the charge that he had hired Chinese and emphasized the fact that he had not received threats from the Caucasian population of the town. In 1892, an ardent campaign was adapted to insure local support for the renewal of the Exclusion Act. Many of those who took a more lenient stand toward Chinese immigration were denounced. C,. P, Hungington, president of the Southern Pacific Company, was accused of ignoring ‘‘the fact that the Chinese do not make a desirable element of population; that they are not assimilative; are not here for a permanent residence, but to make what they can then leave; and that they introduce vices that spread moral contagion.’? Furthermore, there was some agitation directed at President Harrison. A sentiment was echoed from the UNION against him on the grounds that he would not adequately express the will of the Pacific coast on this question. In 1900, the patterns were not relinquished. Mental aberrations were perpetrated in the personalities of the Chinese in San Francisco for carrying on ‘‘Highbinder wars’’ and ‘‘posting rewards for members of their own race.’’ A reflection was caston the Chinese in Grass Valley as fear arose that the conflict might spread. But, **the main objection against Chinese is not their bad character but the fact that they arecheap’’ which would cause competition and degradation of the American labor force, as already stated. When the Exclusion Act was again up for renewal, the old anti-Chinese cries were again utilized to acquire local support. Such headlines as ~ “Keep Out Heathen Chinese’? were certainly notunfamiliar to the residents of Grass Valley in 1902. With flagrant discussions concerning the negative attributes of the Chinese Companies, an emphasis was placed ‘‘on the necessity for exclusing laborers who are on a slavery basis.’’ Therefore, it is obvious from these pieces of historical information that the white community attacked the Chinese on moral and racial grounds. The implication of this data is that the Chinese were characterized as the most undesirable element of the society for a prolonged length of time. A hostile attitude was the inevitable consequence of this belief. The causation of such a view must be traced back to the general instability of the Grass Valley society as well as to the entire State and Nation. Undoubtedly, the Chinese represented a convenient scape goat, and ‘‘whipping boy’’ at the same time. Wedding Picture of Fannie Gin to Hing Lee with Eddie K. Tinloy as best man. Held at the First Congregational Church in Grass Valley in 1915. This was the first Chinese Wedding in Nevada County. NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1971 OFFICERS President Arlie Hansen lst Vice Pres Chester Mel] 2nd Vice Pres Faye Dunbar Secretary Esther Hartung Treasurer Winifred Creegan DIRECTORS Steve Chileski Glenn Jones mere ee Lea Penge Adelaide Elliott Roman Rozynski Patricia Nelson Peg Merrill Louise Dudley AD) t ene Vall 01 Bank St., Grass Valley AY rights reserved by NCHS

The various state laws affecting the Chinese in Grass Valley should alsobe briefly pointed out. The Workingman’s Party, which was organized in part because of the effect of the fall in mining stocks in 1877, had the most impact. The efforts of the party culminated in the Constitution of 1879. This document forbade all corporations from importing or employing the Chin‘ese, formally denied them suffrage, disallowed their employment on public works, and so on. Though many of these laws were later overturned by the courts, it was evident that a powerful segment in the state desired such measures, Most significant to this study are the attitudes of the Grass Valley residents during the nineteenth century, since the attitudes were a major factor in forcing the Chinese to look toward the old. A chronology of derogatory practices and views mustbe presented to provide insight into these turbulent times. In Nevada County, a trend evolved since the Chinese were not allowed to testify in court. Since the immigrant was rendered helpless by the law, robbing him became a lucrative and prosperous adventure. ‘‘They were made victims of countless plunderings; marauding parties made _ incessant raids upon their cabins with impunity, often severly beating or maltreating the occupant,”’ Further, identification with the Chinese was viewed by local opinion leaders and a large portion of the public as extremely degrading. The town newspaper took an emphatic antiChinese stand in the gubernatorial race of 1890. As a matter of fact, both candidates tried to degrade their opponent with charges that the other was trying to usurp white labor with less costly Chinese labor. Markham, one candidate, was accused of wanting to replace Irish labor with Chinese workers at a mine in the Calico district. The Grass Valley UNION echoed,‘*Miners of Nevada County and friends of white labor in all occupations what do you think of a candidate for the 6. AH CHEE, know as ‘*‘DUCK EGG”? is pictured above in Doyle Thomas photo, 1918. Sad plight of the old Chinaman was remedied in 1921 when men who had thrown stones at him in their youth rallled to his assistance and he had the distinction of having a ‘‘day’? named for him in which scores of citizens contributed to his well being. highest office in tne state who prefers Chinese to white labor?’’ In response The San Francisco Chronicle, which supported Markham, asked critics what they had to say about 300 Chinese working for the Aleutian Island Fishing and Mining Company of which his opponent, Pond, held the position of president. To be regarded as an employer of Chinese in Grass Valley was tocommit oneself to the status of a social outcast among the white community.In a notice ‘‘To The Public,’’ W. C. Jones denied the charge that he had hired Chinese and emphasized the fact that he had not received threats from the Caucasian population of the town. In 1892, an ardent campaign was adapted to insure local support for the renewal of the Exclusion Act. Many of those who took a more lenient stand toward Chinese immigration were denounced. C,. P, Hungington, president of the Southern Pacific Company, was accused of ignoring ‘‘the fact that the

Chinese do not make a desirable element of population; that they are not assimilative; are not here for a permanent residence, but to make what they can then leave; and that they introduce vices that spread moral contagion.’? Furthermore, there was some agitation directed at President Harrison. A sentiment was echoed from the UNION against him on the grounds that he would not adequately express the will of the Pacific coast on this question. In 1900, the patterns were not relinquished. Mental aberrations were perpetrated in the personalities of the Chinese in San Francisco for carrying on ‘‘Highbinder wars’’ and ‘‘posting rewards for members of their own race.’’ A reflection was caston the Chinese in Grass Valley as fear arose that the conflict might spread. But, **the main objection against Chinese is not their bad character but the fact that they arecheap’’ which would cause competition and degradation of the American labor force, as already stated. When the Exclusion Act was again up for renewal, the old anti-Chinese cries were again utilized to acquire local support. Such headlines as ~ “Keep Out Heathen Chinese’? were certainly notunfamiliar to the residents of Grass Valley in 1902. With flagrant discussions concerning the negative attributes of the Chinese Companies, an emphasis was placed ‘‘on the necessity for exclusing laborers who are on a slavery basis.’’ Therefore, it is obvious from these pieces of historical information that the white community attacked the Chinese on moral and racial grounds. The implication of this data is that the Chinese were characterized as the most undesirable element of the society for a prolonged length of time. A hostile attitude was the inevitable consequence of this belief. The causation of such a view must be traced back to the general instability of the Grass Valley society as well as to the entire State and Nation. Undoubtedly, the Chinese represented a convenient scape goat, and ‘‘whipping boy’’ at the same time. Wedding Picture of Fannie Gin to Hing Lee with Eddie K. Tinloy as best man. Held at the First Congregational Church in Grass Valley in 1915. This was the first Chinese Wedding in Nevada County. NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1971 OFFICERS President Arlie Hansen lst Vice Pres Chester Mel] 2nd Vice Pres Faye Dunbar Secretary Esther Hartung Treasurer Winifred Creegan DIRECTORS Steve Chileski Glenn Jones mere ee Lea Penge Adelaide Elliott Roman Rozynski Patricia Nelson Peg Merrill Louise Dudley AD) t ene Vall 01 Bank St., Grass Valley AY rights reserved by NCHS