Writting

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MARQUIS ITO ON JAPANESE IMMIGRATION (1897)

THE MARQUIS ITO. (1897, May 19). The Daily Colonist, p. 8.

The Marquis Ito, formerly premier of Japan, arrived at quarantine on the

steamer Empress of Japan yesterday morning. […] To a representative of the Colonist

the Marquis said: […]

“Such a law as the British Columbia legislature proposed to pass to exclude

Japanese is wholly useless in my opinion. I do not think there is the slightest reason

for Canada or the United States to anticipate any influx of Japanese people. Some

will come, no doubt, to the continent, but we have our own northern provinces to

develop, and Formosa also, and our surplus population will find plenty of room there

for years to come. The case of Hawaii does not apply to other countries. Hawaii invited

us to send people there, and made special pledges to us by treaty, and so our people

went there in great numbers. I do not think that either Canada or the United States

need expect many Japanese immigrants. […] I can say with confidence that if the

Hawaiian government should offer us […] islands, we should refuse them. What do

we want of them? They are too far away to be of any use to us. […] We will be your

competitors, but only in China, and that country is so great that there will be ample

room for us all.”

THE GRAND TRUNK AND JAPANESE LABOR (FEB, 1907)

FIFTY THOUSAND JAPANESE FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA. (1907, February 1).

The Province, p. 1.

Note: My source for this text is heavily damaged, and I have had to [guess] at some

words and omit phrases which are entirely unintelligible. -CW

Arrangements have been virtually completed for the coming to British

Columbia of fifty thousand Japanese [to work on] the western end of the Grand Trunk

Pacific railway.

Confirmation of this astonishing piece of news was [obtained in] Vancouver to-

day. All the details of the scheme [have been obtained]. [Perusal of] the details of the

project for an [Oriental invasion] of British Columbia explains the alliance of the

Grand Trunk Pacific with the McInnes-Liberal [alliance], and the hostility of the

railway company […] to the Conservatives. […]

[The] money pouring into Vancouver and all British Columbia, in fact, from

the coffers of the Grand Trunk [Railway], with a lavishness and recklessness never

heretofore known in any provincial election in British Columbia. Those who concern

themselves with the motives that [attend] the actions of great corporations, have been

[drawn] to the conclusion that more than the mere desire [to get ahold] of the Indian

Reserves and other public lands […] and escape the incidence of taxation, lay [behind]

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the Railway Company’s unparalleled generosity. […] And they were right, as the facts

now […] show.

It is a matter of history – notorious, but true – that [the] Grand Trunk Pacific,

for some unexplained reason, [considered abandoning] its promise of commencing

construction on the Pacific Coast. Every one is also aware [of how] year after year,

session after session, the McBride government has introduced and passed legislation

virtually [prohibiting] the entry into this country of Oriental [labor]. This legislation

has been as often disallowed by [the Dominion] administration at Ottawa.

Consequently it is probably obvious to any intending large employer of [Oriental]

labor that as long as McBride was in power he would be a thorn in the flesh.

McBride must be deposed. The Grand Trunk Pacific [is determined] not to

employ one more white man than it could possibly help, in fact to perform the whole

work with Oriental labor. But McBride, with his anti-Mongolian [disposition,] stood

in its way, and they consequently [decided] to delay construction until he was

rendered [powerless].

When the elections were brought on pressure was at [once] brought to bear

upon the Liberal party here by the company’s [foster] parents in Ottawa – the Laurier

administration – to come to an understanding with the G. T. Pacific on this subject,

with the result that a hard [copy of an] agreement signed, sealed and delivered has

been [entered into] by which the parties of the first part (the British Columbia

Liberals) covenant and agree not to [pass any] anti-Mongolian legislation, if

victorious, while the parties of the second part (the company) bound themselves to

furnish all necessary campaign funds. […] So [sure] is the company, of the so-called

Liberals winning, that arrangements are now being perfected to flood the country

with Japanese coolie labor, in the spring, to [an extent previously] undreamed of. And

this is how it is being done:

There is a company carrying on business […] called the United Supply &

Contracting Company, Limited. This concern is in reality the Grand Trunk Pacific,

under another name. Its manager is Mr. E. G. Russell, who is, also, the confidential

agent for the Grand Trunk Pacific on the coast, and its stockholders are said to be the

members of the local Liberal machine. This […] company has, it is understood,

entered into an [agreement] with a Vancouver Japanese employment [agent] named

Goto, to furnish, through one of the largest [agencies] in Tokyo, Japan (a firm with

£45,000 capitalization), of [almost] fifty thousand coolie Japs during this year, [and

more later]. Mr. E. G. Russell, accompanied by Goto, [went up to] Prince Rupert a

short time ago, to enable Goto to look over the ground and examine into conditions,

so that he could report favorably to the Japanese Government, which exercises a

paternal care over all emigrants. Goto is now in Japan making all necessary

arrangements with the Government and the Tokyo firm, for the furnishing and

transportation of this army of coolies to British Columbia. Every difficulty has been

anticipated, in [fact], Mr. E.G. Russell recently stated that it has cost the company,

up to date, over fifteen thousand dollars in [currency,] perfecting the scheme.

It may be asked, how can the Alien Act be circumvented? The plan is this: The

Grand Trunk Pacific will [officially] have nothing to do with the bringing of the

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[Japanese workers]. The United Supply company (its creature) will [land] the coolies

at Prince Rupert, under a secret agreement, with the Tokyo firm, as to wages, etc.,

and arrange to erect huge barracks for their accommodation. The Grand Trunk

Pacific emissaries can then appear on the scene and innocently hire them just as they

would engage any other residents there.

But the worst feature of this plot is the statement made on the authority of Mr.

Russell that these coolie Japs are not to be sent back to Japan after the railway is

completed, but are to be settled by the Railway Company all along the line, so that

they can do the rough operating work of the system. As a consequence the

workingmen of Canada, who are helping with their money to build this railroad, will

derive no benefit from its construction, nor even in its operation after it is built.

These are the facts. This conspiracy, or plot, or whatever you like to call it, is

made possible by the expectation that the workingmen of British Columbia will vote

for and place in power one of the parties to it, the so-called Liberal-Grand Trunk

combination.

The presence of all these Japanese will open up other large questions. Who

knows but what the intention of the Railway Company and its political followers to

eventually enfranchise this Japanese horde? What a fine plan to run British

Columbia could be carried out with fifty or sixty thousand machine votes!

BOWSER’S BILL (MAR, 1907)

WOULD DEBAR JAPS FROM RAILWAY WORK. (1907, March 25). The Province, p. 1.

Victoria, March 25. – (Special.) – Formal notice was given to the House by Mr.

W. J. Bowser to-day of his intention to ask leave to introduce on Tuesday an act which

will aim at the exclusion of the cheap foreign labor for the Grand Trunk Pacific,

including Mr. Goto and his fifty thousand Japanese.

This will be done by applying the educational test as in the Natal Act1. Mr.

Bowser, however, intends in his bill to go further than any previous legislation has

thus far gone, even if the previous provincial acts have been disallowed by the federal

Government, which is quite likely to be the fate of this.

In the Grand Trunk Pacific contract, as it is well known, there is no restriction

whatever as to the class of labor that company may employ. It may have the cheapest

and most undesirable class of Asiatics. And it is against this class that Mr. Bowser’s

bill is aimed.

1 “In that act the educational test is applied and no person is able to come into the country who is not

able to write in one of the European languages.” CAPITAL GOSSIP. (1900, February 22). The Windsor Evening Record, p. 2.

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THE COLONIST ON JAPANESE IMMIGRATION (AUG, 1907)

THE JAPANESE QUESTION. (1907, August 7). The Daily Colonist, p. 4.

In view of the presence in Victoria of a number of representatives of the British

Press, it seems timely to present what we conceive to be the general sentiment of the

people of this part of Canada in regard to the influx of Japanese. It must be admitted

that there are many who would welcome immigration from any source provided it

would solve the question of labor for domestic, farm and general purposes for which

unskilled workmen would be useful, but they are in the minority, and even they would

not assent to unrestricted immigration, if they believed it would lead to the

Orientalization of Western Canada. They deny that any such danger exists. The

remainder of the community, while conceding that there is a shortage of unskilled

labor, hold that such a remedy as would be afforded by Oriental immigration would

be worse than the disease. The question is a broader one than it appears to be on its

face, and while at present it involves only the Japanese, the progress of Eastern Asia

is so rapid that within a comparatively brief period it will include the Chinese as well.

In other words, the somewhat critical condition which has arisen is only the opening

phase of what will probably be the greatest race problem in history.

The people of this part of Canada have grown so familiar with this question

that they are able to regard it with some discrimination. They realize to some extent

the difficulties of the situation as regards Japan. About ten years ago the Marquis Ito

was in Victoria, and he took occasion, as he himself expressed it, to give the first

statement of his views upon international questions, as they affected Canada,

through the columns of the Colonist. That distinguished stateman said, among other

things, that we need have no fear of any very considerable influx of his fellow-

countrymen, because “the work of Japan is in Asia.” If we could be sure of this, there

would be no Japanese question with which Canadians need concern themselves, but

unfortunately Marquis Ito was unable to foresee the effect upon the character of the

Japanese people of the changes, which he did so much to inaugurate. The Japanese

are developing an individuality apart from the policy of their government, and they

aim to go where there are dollars to be earned. The work of the Japanese government

may be in Asia, but the work of each Japanese seems to be anywhere he can get

employment. Japan is increasing in population at the rate of about 800,000 a year,

and there is not room for so many new people at home. They must go somewhere, and

they are seeking openings all along the Western Coast of America. Apparently they

are not attracted to the opportunities which must exist for immigration in Korea,

Manchuria and other Asiatic regions. An Island race, the sea presents no barrier, but

only a means whereby they can reach lands where they can put their energy and

industry to good advantage. In these things the Japanese have, and they are entitled

to have our full sympathy, but after due consideration has been given to them, there

remains untouched the greatest factor in the case, namely, racial demarcation. Our

people simply will not live side by side with the Japanese on terms of equality, and

the Japanese will be content with nothing else.

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The difficulties presented by the facts as they exist are admitted. We do not

know that they are rendered any more serious by the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. On

the contrary, it seems as though the close friendship of the two governments ought to

assist in removing them. We are told of what is due from us to Japan; not so much is

said of what is due from Japan to us. One may assume that the advantages of the

alliance are not all on one side, and if we must consider Japanese pride of race, it is

surely not unreasonable to expect that they will consider those ideas, call them

prejudices, if you will, which the Canadian people entertain. Canadians have never

been slow to make sacrifices for imperial reasons. We have, not quite without protest,

but certainly without very serious expressions of dissatisfaction, seen choice parts of

our territory given up to our neighbors for the sake of the peace of the Empire, but

we will not be so complaisant in regard to a policy, which will lead to the overrunning

of what we have left by a people alien in blood, institutions, language, and traditions.

If the Imperial government is unable to appreciate the importance of preserving the

Western frontier of Canada as a British frontier, in fact as well as in name, it is not

easy to foresee what steps our own people may feel called upon to take.

Our own impression is that the emergency is not nearly as grave as some

people consider; that is, we believe that it can be safely met and overcome, if it is

approached with firmness and dignity, and the Imperial authorities recognize that

their own flesh and blood are entitled to the same degree of consideration as is

extended to aliens. We are not going to discuss what will happen in a decade or so

from the present date. Some problems of the future can best be postponed until the

future, for time is a great solvent of difficulties. The question of the days is: Shall

there be unrestricted immigration of Japanese into Canada? The majority of the

people of Canada say: No, and it is for the Imperial government to devise some way

by which this determination can be reconciled with the not unreasonable aspirations

of the Japanese people and the preservation of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. In

dealing with this question the Home government ought to understand that there are

limitations to the spirit of self-sacrifice of the Canadian people.

MR. OLIVER’S VIEWS. (1907, September 6). The Daily Colonist, p. 4.

Who is Mr. Oliver? This is a question which the Montreal Star2 asks after

perusing what he had to say about the relative merits of the Chinese and Japanese,

much to the disadvantage of the latter, and the Star answers that he is an official

mouthpiece of the Canadian government, and “a minister of the crown of an ally of

the emperor” of Japan. The Star thinks that in view of his official responsibility Mr.

Oliver should have kept his opinion to himself, even if he believed the Japanese are

not as trustworthy as the Chinese and that the Japanese government is not living up

to the spirit of its understanding with Canada on immigration matters. Our Montreal

contemporary thinks that Mr. Oliver’s views will be quoted in Japan and will create

bad feeling there, which is not unlikely. The question: Who is Mr. Oliver? is worthy

of a little consideration. He is an Edmonton newspaper man, who settled in that town

2 I have not been able to locate a copy of the article referred to. -CW

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when it was not much more than a geographical expression. He doubtless has many

excellent qualities; a man does not generally come to the frontier unless there is

something good in him; but he is tactless, rough and lacking in appreciation of the

responsibilities attaching to official position. What he said about the Japanese may

be quite true. Probably he only expressed the opinions which he met with when at

Vancouver. But there are some things which are better left unsaid, and

uncomplimentary views regarding the subjects of a friendly power are among them,

at least when the speaker is a minister of the crown.

THE TIMES VS THE COLONIST (SEP, 1907)

A POLICY OF HUSH. (1907, September 6). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 4.

We confess that we can scarcely understand the position of the Colonist with

regard to the discussion of the question of Chinese and Japanese immigration. Here

is a matter of prime importance to every class in the community, but from which our

neighbor asks everyone to withhold comment, leaving it for judicious treatment by

the editorial pen alone.

Responsible correspondents are refused the insertion of letters on the subject,

couched in perfectly proper language, and to which they sign their names. Not content

with this Hon. Frank Oliver is severely lectured today for daring to give in an

interview his views as to the comparative value of the Chinese and Japanese as

immigrants, to the disadvantage of the latter. It is feared that in some way these

views may become before the Emperor of Japan, and an international tangle of world

stirring proportions may follow because Hon. Mr. Oliver happens to be a Minister of

one of the dominions of Britain, which is an ally of Japan. The question is also asked,

“Who is Mr. Oliver?” the inference being that he is quite of too small caliber to be

permitted to canvass the subject.

It would seem from these facts that this whole subject has, in the opinion of

our contemporary, become such a delicate matter that the only protection from

bloodshed is the judicial calm and poise of the editor of the Colonist, who can be relied

upon to protect the public from the fruit of their own impulses by refusing to publish

their ill-digested views. In his spare moments he will try and pacify Japan, and stop

her from wrinkling her front. The sleeping passenger rarely appreciates the danger

in the form of yawning chasms and mighty precipices round which he is unconsciously

carried by the brave and skillful engineer.

In spite of this, we believe that the proper solution of the problems which

confront democracy, can only be properly attained through the people being seized of

all the facts. Government by the people entails the responsibility of letting the people

know the facts. In no other way can they deal intelligently with immigration, or any

other matters. There has been much plain speaking, and there will have to be more,

before this vital matter of Oriental immigration is solved. And it will be solved after

the manner of British people by “Talking together / Brother to brother’s face,” and

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not by assuming it to be a subject too profound for popular discussion, and to be

adjusted only by wise head wagging.

THE COLONIST’S POSITION. (1907, September 7). The Daily Colonist, p. 4.

The Times says it is scarcely able to understand the position of the Colonist

with regard to the discussion of questions relating to Chinese and Japanese

immigration. This certainly is not the fault of the Colonist, for this paper has declared

itself over and over again as unalterably opposed to the introduction of Chinese labor

into Canada. In pursuance of this policy we have declined to print letters advocating

it. This may not be a wise decision, but it is certainly intelligible. In regard to the

Japanese we have discussed the question over and over again and have never closed

our columns to others desiring to discuss the pros and cons of this phase of the

Oriental question. We have printed very many extracts from eastern exchanges

giving their views on the subject, and have expressed approval of some and

disapproval of others. We have endeavored to deal sanely with a difficult subject and

perhaps this is why the Times is not able to understand our position. If it wishes a

somewhat full statement of the views of this paper on the subject, it will find them in

the editorial columns of the issue of August 7.

Our contemporary thinks that we have sought to belittle Mr. Oliver by our

references to his remarks on the subject, but on the contrary we only gave the

Minister of the Interior credit for the weight that should attach to ministerial

utterances. If the Minister of Inland Revenue should so forget himself as to speak

disparagingly of the subjects or citizens of a friendly Power, we should say the same

thing about him as about his colleague, for it is impossible for them to disassociate

their official standing from their public utterances. If our contemporary has kept in

touch of events it knows that the remarks of Mr. Macpherson, M. P., were commented

upon with some bitterness in Japan, and it would realize that much greater

significance will be attached to observations made by a responsible Minister of the

Crown. We are quite in accord with what our contemporary says about free and open

discussion, but there is such a thing as international courtesy, and this, we think,

Mr. Oliver transgressed.

MORE LIGHT NEEDED. (1907, September 7). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 4.

At the risk of being again upbraided for stupidity, we must ask for still further

light on the attitude of the Colonist to the subject of Oriental immigration and the

letters of correspondents thereon.

This morning we are told that the position of that paper is perfectly clear. It is

unalterably opposed to the introduction of Chinese, and in pursuance of that policy

declines to print letters advocating it.

In regard to the Japanese it “has commented on the subject” over and over

again and “has opened its columns” to a discussion of the whole subject. This in brief

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is what the Colonist claims in this morning’s issue, and it adds benevolently that this

is a sane course and hence cannot be understood by the Times.

The wise are usually tolerant of the shortcomings and limitations of those who

are otherwise, and hence we venture to put the converse of this argument. If the

closing of its columns to letters in favor of the admission of the Chinese is an

indication that the Colonist “is unalterably opposed” to their introduction, does the

opening of its columns to a discussion of Japanese indicate that the Colonist is

“unalterably” in favor of the admission of this class?

Moreover, to be logical the Colonist must make this a standing rule. The result

would mean that it would print the views of only such correspondents as are in accord

with it on all subjects. On the other hand the paper must be taken as approving,

under this rule, all letters which appear in its columns.

This is, we submit, a new interpretation of the significance of correspondence

in the daily press. Under its operation the desultory letters which drift into a paper

become on publication extra-editorial in character. We can understand now, in part,

why our neighbor insists on the names of the writers being attached.

McBRIDE AND ‘FINAL AND UNALTERABLE’ (APR, 1907)

PREMIER WILL GO TO LONDON. (1907, April 3). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

The present intention of Premier McBride is to proceed to London on the

conclusion of the session of the legislature, and there to do what he sees fit in

connection with the province’s contention for better terms. This move on the part of

the Premier will come very close to taking the fight as promised to the “foot of the

throne.” […]

Just in what matter the Premier will approach the Imperial authorities on this

subject is very difficult to understand. The proposed amendments to the B. N. A. Act,

which Sir Wilfrid will suggest to the Imperial government, is in compliance with the

recommendations of the premiers of the provinces. Premier McBride may only ask to

have the Imperial authorities take steps to give to British Columbia something which

the other provinces refused to do at a representative convention of the premiers after

the premier of the province of British Columbia had done his best in presenting the

case for the best part of a week. […] There has been serious objection taken to the

fact that the suggested amendment to the British North America Act, which assigns

British Columbia a sum of $100,000 annually for ten years as a special grant,

designates that this shall be “final and unalterable.”

THE PREMIER WINS POINT IN PROVINCE’S CASE. (1907, June 14). The Nanaimo Daily News, p. 1.

LONDON, June 14. – Hon. Richard McBride’s negotiations with the British

ministers had a sequel in the Imperial parliament today, when Winston Churchill, as

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spokesman for the Colonial office, introduced an amendment to the British North

America Act, readjusting the subsidies to the provinces.

Mr. Churchill spoke at some length. After reviewing the stages leading up to

the measure, he dwelt upon British Columbia’s position, and stated that while the

Imperial government was bound to give weight to the representations of the

Dominion government, backed as they were by all the provinces except British

Columbia, yet they did not want it understood that these alone were to be regarded

in a matter in which a single province was affected.

He referred to the action of the British Columbia legislature in protesting

against the proposed settlement being “final and unalterable,” and in this connection

spoke as follows:

“The prime minister of Quebec, also Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Hon. Mr. Fielding,

have made personal applications to the colonial secretary or myself on this question.

On the other hand, Hon. Mr. McBride, prime minister of British Columbia, has also

stated his case very fully to us. He has, with great frankness and much force, placed

us in possession of the views and grievances of British Columbia. While we are unable

to accept his opinions entirely, we have endeavored as far as possible to make the

legislation agreeable to him, and we have not introduced into the legislation the

words “final and unalterable,” which it had been proposed to introduce, and which

would have prejudiced British Columbia’s chance of making some other friendly

arrangements in the future with the Dominion and with the other provinces.”

BOWSER’S BILL VETOED ON M’BRIDE’S ADVICE. (1907, September 7). The Vancouver World, p. 1.

Mystery has always enshrouded the fate of the Bowser Bill, the measure for

the prevention of Oriental immigration which the Lieutenant-Governor refused to

sign. It is a constitutional inference that Mr. Dunsmuir acted on the advice of the

Premier, and it has been a subject of some speculation as to what could have impelled

the Premier to take a course contrary to the expressed wishes of successive legislative

assemblies. Information now in the possession of The World, however, throws a

curious light on the matter. It is asserted on what is deemed competent authority

that when Mr. McBride reached Ottawa he interviewed the Secretary of State, Mr.

Scott, and said the bill would be disallowed by his advice, and suggested that the

Ottawa authorities in their turn reciprocate by facilitating the mission to London to

the extent of allowing him a free hand to make the best he could of it. Mr. Scott was

so surprised that he wired to the Lieutenant-Governor for confirmation – and got it.

The Bowser act was therefore disallowed at the request of the Premier of this

province.

When the Hon. Richard McBride, premier of the province of British Columbia,

started on his now notorious pilgrimage to the “foot of the throne,” he was probably

not looking for trouble on the trail. So far indeed was he from this state of mind that

he may have felt that any little thing which he could do to avoid said trouble would

be quite in order. Could he by one of those charming side steps which are peculiar to

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the “Polished Politician” in the “Waltz Wonderful” step around the flank of the enemy,

and proceed on his way unobstructed, so much the better.

Hon. W. Templeman is said to be in possession of a letter and certain

telegrams. Not just the ordinary letters and telegrams which a minister of Inland

revenue would naturally pick up in the course of the voluminous business of his office.

These are different. These have to do with many things, such as one Bowser’s Oriental

Exclusion Act, and the Lieutenant-governor of the province of British Columbia, and

Hon. Richard W. Scott, K. C., secretary of state for the Dominion of Canada, and Hon.

Richard McBride,, premier of the province of British Columbia. So you see that they

are not ordinary by any means.

The story is as follows:

Those who claim to have seen these important documents say that when

Premier McBride was on his way to the “Foot of the Throne,” he dropped off at Ottawa

for a little chat with the powers that be. Here he met the secretary of state, Hon. R.

W. Scott, and in the course of a conversation with that gentleman stated that there

would be no trouble about the then recently enacted Bowser Bill for Oriental

Exclusion, as the Premier, out of kindly consideration, and in order to prevent the

embarrassment which would naturally follow if the Dominion government had to

turn the measure down, had arranged with the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province

of British Columbia to refuse to assent to the bill. This sounded so improbable to the

somewhat skeptical Secretary of State that this gentleman promptly wired to Hon.

James Dunsmuir for confirmation. To this – so it is said – came in due time the

answer, “Yes – Letter follows.”

The price? Well, as the premier pointed out in his sunny, smiling way, there

are just two words in the Lt.-Governor’s signature, and just two words in that “British

North America Amending Act” – the little words “final” and “unalterable.” Why not

allow his efforts to have these two struck out, to balance those two final words without

which the Bowser Act would become so much waste paper? Two words for two words.

Why not trade?

Such is said to have been the Premier’s little proposition.

Hence the telegrams – and the letter – which, it is reported, are all now in the

keeping of Hon. W. Templeman, and all of which are to be produced in the fulness of

time.

NATAL ACT WAS KILLED BY MCBRIDE. (1907, September 9). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

On Saturday the Vancouver World published a statement relating to the

disallowance of the Natal Act of Hon. Mr. Bowser last session before he became a

minister, and which, although carried in the House, was refused assent by His Honor

the Lieut.-Governor.

The World stated that when Hon. Mr. McBride reached Ottawa on his way to

London on his better terms mission, that he told Hon. R. W. Scott, secretary of state,

that Mr. Bowser’s bill would not become law, but would be disallowed by the Lieut.-

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Governor on his advice, and suggested that the Ottawa authorities in turn reciprocate

by dropping the words “final and unalterable” from the proposed amendment of the

B. N. A. Act.

It is further stated that reference by wire and letter to the Lieut.-Governor of

British Columbia confirmed this intelligence, and that copies of this documentary

evidence were in the possession of Hon. W. Templeman, who is now in Victoria.

The latter was interviewed this morning with reference to the authenticity of

the report.

“The World story is partly correct and partly incorrect,” he said. “The facts are

that while on his way to London Mr. McBride called upon the secretary of state, Hon.

Mr. Scott, and procured from him credentials which it was necessary he should have

in appearing before the colonial office, as a representative of British Columbia. He

was given these credentials as a matter of fact, and without any proposition being

made, or any suggestion of bargain and sale, in respect to either the reserved

provincial act or the Imperial Better Terms Act.

“The provincial legislature was sitting at the time, and Mr. McBride was asked

by Mr. Scott if the bill affecting Japanese which had passed the House was likely to

become law. Mr. McBride assured the secretary of state that the Lieut.-Governor

would not give it his assent, the presumption being that the premier had so advised

the Lieut.-Governor.

“The Lieut.-Governor on the 23rd of April was asked by wire to corroborate the

statement made by Mr. McBride, and on the 28th Mr. Dunsmuir did so, and in an

official letter of the 29th of April stated his reasons for withholding his assent, the

grounds being that the act was a modified form of other acts dealing with the same

subject which had already been disallowed, and also because were it to become law it

would seriously affect international relations.

“The provincial act was reserved, therefore, at the instance of Mr. McBride,

and the Ottawa government had nothing whatever to do in influencing the Lieut.-

Governor or Mr. McBride in the decision arrived at in Victoria, that the bill should

not become law.

“The story that Mr. McBride would agree to kill the provincial bill if Sir Wilfrid

would agree to strike out of the British North America amendment bill the words

‘final and unalterable’ carries with it its own refutation. The provincial bill was killed

by Mr. McBride of his own volition, while the words ‘final and unalterable’ remained

in the Imperial act.”

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Martin, J. (1907, September 9). British Columbia Betrayed by M’Bride. The Vancouver World, p. 1.

Written by Joseph Martin (1852 – 1923), journalist and anti-Chinese politician. As an MLA for Vancouver in the late 1890s, he tried to introduce legislation that would have barred Chinese from owning mining claims.

It seems to me that the people who took part in the anti-Asiatic demonstration

on Saturday evening acted most unfairly in burning the Lieutenant-Governor in

effigy, but this action on their part arose no doubt from a misapprehension.

It appears from page 82A of the B. C. statutes for 1907 that the Lieutenant-

Governor reserved his assent to Mr. Bowser’s bill.

The Lieutenant-Governor of a province may under section 55 of the B. N. A.

Act, reserve a bill for the approval of the Governor-General, but this is only due under

instructions from the Governor-General-in-council, or, in other words, the

government in power at Ottawa, as Sir John Bourinot shows at page 658 of the second

edition of his work on Parliamentary Procedure.

If, however, Mr. Dunsmuir had no such instructions from Ottawa and reserved

the bill of his own motion, then Hon. Richard McBride is responsible for that course,

and in that event he should have been burned in effigy.

Under our constitution, the Lieutenant-Governor has no personal

responsibility. He must always have advisers who will assume responsibility for all

his actions.

In any event, if Mr. McBride considered the bill of any importance he should

not have submitted to any instructions from Sir Wilfrid Laurier directing the bill to

be reserved; he should have resigned right then and there. Mr. Dunsmuir would then

have been obliged to find some one willing to accept the position of premier and the

onus of killing this bill, and any one accepting such responsibility would have been

obliged to immediately bring on a general election and obtain the endorsement of the

people of the province.

As there has been no suggestion from the local government that Mr. Dunsmuir

had instructions from Sir Wilfrid Laurier to reserve the bill, we may, I think, safely

assume that in doing so he acted on the advice of his premier, the Hon. Richard

McBride.

13

THE ASIATIC EXCLUSION LEAGUE’S PARADE (SEP, 1907)

PARADE WILL BE STRIKING. (1907, September 6). The Vancouver World, p. 1.

The big parade and anti-Asiatic demonstration to be held on Saturday evening

under the auspices of the Asiatic Exclusion league promises to be one of the most

impressive affairs of the kind ever seen in British Columbia, and if the expectations

of the committee are realized the parade will undoubtedly be the largest ever seen in

the city.

It is expected that nearly every lodge, labor union and fraternal organization

in the city will be represented. A feature of the parade will be the attendance of large

numbers of service men who have signified their intention of taking part. All men

who have served in the army or navy or any branch of the Imperial forces are

requested to parade, and all will wear their medals.

Three brass bands will take part and if possible a number of torches will be

secured.

The parade will assemble on the Cambie street grounds and the start will be

made sharp at 7:30. The route will be along Georgia street to Granville, and to the

city hall via Hastings street.

At the city hall a mass meeting will be held at which many prominent citizens

will be heard. Mr. Harry Senkler will act as chairman, and Mr. C. M. Woodworth will

be one of the principal speakers. Mr. A. E. Fowler3, secretary of the Exclusion league

in Seattle, will be in the city for the occasion and will also address the meeting.

Prominent members of the Exclusion league are confident that the

demonstration will afford ample and striking evidence of the sentiment of the citizens

of Vancouver concerning Asiatic immigration.

3 Fowler had been in contact with British Columbians earlier in the year. “A letter […] was read from

A. E. Fowler, secretary of the Washington Exclusion League at Seattle, suggesting among other things

that an international convention of all those interested in the exclusion of Asiatics should be called to

meet at some point on British territory, preferably Victoria or Vancouver. He stated that the league

was growing in Washington state at a great pace, no less than 5,000 members having been enrolled in

two weeks.” ENDORSES ACTION OF SCHOOL BOARD. (1907, August 28). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

14

THE BELLINGHAM RIOTS (SEP, 1907)

RACE RIOTS RAGING – BLOODSHED FEARED. (1907, September 5). The Seattle Star, p. 1.

BELLINGHAM, [WASHINGTON STATE,] Sept. 5. – One of the fiercest race

riots in the history of the northwest is raging in this city. Business is practically

suspended and the end is not in sight.

That blood will be shed before the day is over is practically a foregone

conclusion, and according to Mayor Black if the city police and the extras sworn in

are not able to afford ample protection, federal troops will be called out.

The trouble was precipitated late yesterday afternoon when the report spread

through the rank and file of union circles that the Whatcom Falls Mills company had

purposefully laid off many white laborers to give place to Hindus who have lately

congregated in this city. The trouble had been expected for several weeks. First

Filipinos and Japanese were given employment in the various mills as they could be

secured at much cheaper wages than the white men. Then to add insult to injury the

Hindus were put to work and white men discharged.

TROUBLE STARTS

Early Wednesday evening there was a spirit of unrest at various labor centers

of the city. Finally at midnight, as if by a preconcerted signal, 500 shingle weavers

and other millmen started with hoots and yells towards the Hindu settlement.

There the men divided and scattered, bent on driving the foreigners from the

city. Naked and half naked turbaned Hindus ran here and there, some making a

break for the woods and other seeking a place of safety under the docks or among the

lumber piles on the water front.

The white men entered houses and forced the Hindus to dress, gather their

belongings and to “get” as quickly as possible.

HINDUS LEAVE. (1907, September 6). The Seattle Star, p. 1.

BELLINGHAM, Sept. 6. – By night few if any Hindus will be in town. In spite

of the promises of city officials to protect them, the turbaned men from India have

suffered enough at the hands of the white men and are leaving the city, bag and

baggage, as quickly as possible. Yesterday afternoon many started to walk to British

Columbia. Last night trains and boats took others. Many went south. On the Great

Northern train 20 went to Seattle and over 40 left by boat.

15

THE RIOT, AS REPORTED BY THE COLONIST (SEP, 1907)

VANCOUVER HOODLUMS DISGRACE THEIR CITY. (1907, September 8). The Daily Colonist, p. 1.

Vancouver, Sept. 7. – At a big procession of the Asiatic Exclusion League this

evening Lieut.-Governor Dunsmuir was burned in effigy in front of the city hall. The

parade was organized at the Cambie street grounds, and marched, a thousand or

more strong, to the city hall, carrying the effigy and banners bearing anti-Asiatic

mottoes. The burning of the effigy was accompanied by the howling of the crowd and

the waving of white flags labeled for a “White Canada.” Both in the city hall and

outside, orators addressed overflow meetings. The meetings were very tumultuous,

but for the most part the speakers counselled moderation.

A resolution was drafted calling on Mr. McBride to resign on account of a

statement contained in the World, saying that he had counselled the vetoeing of the

bill introduced by Mr. Bowser last session on condition that the Dominion

Government would consent to the elimination of the words “final and unalterable”

from the amendment to the B.N.A. Act.

C. M. Woodworth proposed a counter resolution, asking the Dominion

government to instruct the lieutenant-governor to consent to the act. Finally an

amendment was carried asking Premier McBride to explain his action at the next

meeting of the league, next Thursday evening.

When the meeting was in progress a gang of hoodlums went through

Chinatown and the Japanese quarter and broke nearly all the store windows. The

police were called in and kept the crowd out of the Chinese quarter afterwards. The

fire brigade was also called out with hose, to keep back the crowd if necessary, and

also in case of a conflagration in Chinatown, as threats had been made on the street

to set fire to it.

The crowd, after the meeting, gathered near Wood’s hotel, at the corner of

Hastings and Carroll streets, but was kept from Chinatown by a cordon of police.

Speakers mounted on telephone poles and counselled moderation.

Later – The anti-Asiatic demonstration swelled into a riot. The Japs resented

the window breaking and armed themselves with clubs and boards and charged on

the mob, shouting “Banzai!” Police Officer Craig charged the crowd with a drawn

revolver and fired to intimidate them. The window of the Japanese bank was

smashed. The police arrested seven men. The crowd was very much excited and it

took five policemen to arrest one man, as the mob threatened the officers. False

alarms were rung in and the fire brigade was called out several times. One white man

had his head smashed by a Japanese, but was not killed. One old Jap was badly

injured. The riot has now died down.

16

THE RIOT, AS REPORTED BY THE TIMES (SEP, 1907)

WHITES AND JAPANESE FIGHT IN STREETS OF VANCOUVER. (1907,

September 9). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

The rioting which took place in Vancouver city on Saturday and yesterday has

raised what was before only an anti-Oriental agitation to the dimensions of an

international question. Although it is recognized that the worse element of the

population was responsible for the scenes which took place, it has been ascertained

that the entire white population is in a measure in sympathy with the rioters.

The whole trouble grew out of a parade organized by the Asiatic Exclusion

League. For some weeks past the feelings of Vancouverites have been worked up in

connection with the steady and increasing flow of Asiatics to this country. A raid was

made on Chinatown by a mob some 800 strong. The destruction of the stores there

drew the attention of other citizens, who joined the demonstration and descended on

the Japanese quarters. The Japanese resented the rioting and gave blow for blow,

with the result that something in the nature of a pitched battle was fought.

As far as can be ascertained, some 25 rioters are in prison, several have been

injured, a couple fatally, either by knives, broken bottles or bricks, which were hurled

on all sides. The city is even now to a certain extent under mob law, as all the

dispatches say that the police have been powerless to quiet the rioters. It is likely,

however, that stern measures will be adopted to-night to prevent a repetition of the

events of the past two days.

As the dispatches printed on this page also show, the inflammatory speech

made by a Seattle man seems to have had a good deal to do with setting the match to

material which was ready for a conflagration.

A. E. Fowler, the man in question, is the secretary of the Anti-Asiatic League

in Seattle, and he pointed to the action of the Bellingham rioters in connection with

the Hindus as an example worthy of emulation.

VANCOUVER CITY BATHED IN RIOT. (1907, September 9). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

(Special to the Times). Vancouver, Sept. 8. – For five hours during last night

Vancouver was a riot town, ruled by mob. It was daylight this morning before the

crowds were dispersed. The police records show that the Chinese and Japanese

quarters of the city are wrecked, seven men only placed under arrest, and a dozen

persons stabbed and bruised, as subjects for the hospitals. Following the burning of

the Lieut.-Governor in effigy in front of the city hall on the public street were the

wildest scenes ever witnessed in western Canada. The

POLICE WERE POWERLESS.

Unable to control the mob the police had actually to appeal to the Japanese merely

to resist attacks on themselves and their property rather than to go to the street and

fight openly. Hundreds of the Mikado’s subjects had come to town early in the day to

17

witness the parade demonstration of the evening. They were itching for a battle in

the streets, which if it had occurred would probably have resulted in many casualties,

but in only one case did they make a determined fight and then they put rioters to

flight.

It was early this morning that one battle occurred at the corner of Westminster

avenue and Powell street. Four blocks along the latter thoroughfare are lined with

Japanese stores. Profiting by their experience in [the] Chinatown riot, the police had

stretched ropes across the street and were defending [the] entrance to all comers. But

at this corner are three handsome Japanese general stores.

TWO HUNDRED MEN

surged around this point. Suddenly from away up the street came the sound of

smashing glass as some plate front was stove in. Instantly hundreds of bricks flew

from all directions directed at the corner stores, and in fifteen seconds thousands of

dollars’ worth of damage was done. The Japanese could stand it no longer. From

stores, from hallways, from roofs they hurried down into the street. Armed with sticks

and bottles and even knives they

CHARGED THE MOB.

“Banzais” filled the air.

In five minutes the Japanese had cleared the street. Away far up Powell street

a volley of pistol shots were heard at that moment and the crowd turned its attention

to the new scene of fighting. The Japanese pursued, and the white men fled, only to

take up fight in another place where the little brown enemy was not nearly so well

organized. The Nipponese had been well prepared for this street corner attack. They

used broken bottles to perfection. Grasping in his hand the neck of a broken bottle,

the Japanese would jab it into the face or body of the nearest rioter, and many nasty

wounds were inflicted by this system of warfare.

JAPANESE WOMEN

too came to the rescue of their husbands with a new supply of bottles, already broken

with sharp edges that cut like razors. Knives were used in this fight too. Two white

men were so badly injured, that they had to be carried away by the crowd.

Up to this time not a single arrest had been made, but by 2 o’clock the crowd

had begun to become thinner in places and one by one seven rioters were gathered

in. But even the police had literally to fight with their captives’ friends every step of

the way to the station, which stands only two blocks away from the Japanese district.

Early in the evening the police had no chance to make arrests. As often as a rioter

was laid hold of for heaving bricks through the windows or assaulting a Chinaman,

three or four, or a dozen of his comrades would rush forward and snatch the arrested

man from the policeman.

THE RIOT STARTED

when the procession had ended at the city hall. The purpose of the meeting held there

was to bring to the attention of the federal government the need of stopping

altogether Oriental immigration. Long before the parade reached the meeting place,

the auditorium was crowded to overflowing and it was to find entertainment for itself

18

that an overflow meeting, seven or eight thousand strong, sought diversion by

cleaning out Chinatown. But before this occurred there took place the incident of

THE BURNING IN EFFIGY

of James Dunsmuir, Lieut.-Governor. None too popular at any time with the labor

people, the representative of King Edward in British Columbia brought himself into

particular disfavor with the workingman at last session of the legislature by declining

to assent to anti-Japanese legislation.

It was a sorry figure of the Governor that was burned last evening. His Honor

boasts a neatly cut brown beard, while the model artistically arranged for the fire

was clean shaven. But the figure was labeled to prevent any misunderstanding. Down

through the streets it was carried with a banner just ahead, with the words: “We will

burn him to-night.” The chair was hardly filled inside the city hall before a match

was applied to the oil-saturated figure of the governor out on the pavement.

THE POLICE TRIED FEEBLY

to stop this, but they might as well have tried to dam up the tide. Then came A. E.

Fowler, secretary of the Anti-Asiatic League of Seattle, who addressed the overflow

meeting, the scene the while lighted by the burning effigy of His Honor, Mr.

Dunsmuir. Fowler told the crowd how the Hindus had been driven out of Bellingham.

Five minutes later the crowd was wrecking all that was movable and breakable in

Chinatown. In the meantime a series of formal resolutions were carried at the

meeting indoors.

Just at the time when festivities were at their height, the steamer Charmer

arrived from Victoria with five hundred Japs aboard. They had come across from

Yokohama on [the] trans-Pacific liner and could not have arrived here at a more

inopportune time. The only lucky feature was that the mob was otherwise engaged.

But scores of rioters scented the arrival of the brown men and started for the

Canadian Pacific wharf, where the new arrivals were debarking. Unceremoniously,

seven of the Japanese

WERE THROWN INTO THE TIDE.

Others dropped their baggage and fled. The men were rescued from the inlet.

Curiously enough, while the riot was at its height last night, K. Ishii, director

of the Japanese foreign offices who had been sent to America, especially to investigate

the labor and immigration question, arrived in Vancouver. The Great Northern depot

is in the centre of Chinatown and [the] visitors had not been in Vancouver two

minutes before they were

OVERWHELMED IN RIOT.

Their carriage finally broke through the crowd and they reached the consulate

safely. Ishii immediately sent word to the leader of the Japanese section counselling

moderation, and later he paid a visit himself to the district.

AN EYE WITNESS

says that all white Vancouver is in sympathy with the rioters. J. B. Tusant, a

gentleman who came over from Vancouver yesterday and is staying with J. P. Watson

of this city, interviewed this morning said that he saw the parade in Vancouver on

Saturday and attended the meeting. The parade commenced with about 800 people,

19

and this swelled as it passed along until several thousand were marching beneath

anti-Oriental banners. These banners were inscribed with suitable texts such as,

“Who will defend Canada in Case of War?” “What Must We Do to Be Saved?” Others

gave the number of Orientals on board the various ships bound for British Columbia.

There was intense excitement and this increased until the mob was worked up

to the frenzy pitch. Everyone seemed to be with the movement, even those who took

no part in it. The banners were cheered, or hooted, as the occasion required, and never

a word was said in defence of the Orientals.

Mr. Tusant says that public opinion, as far as he has been able to find out, is

entirely with the movement. He did not meet one person who had anything to say in

favor of the Japs and Chinese, or who even deprecated the extreme measures which

had been taken.

FOLLOWUP BY THE COLONIST (SEP, 1907)

VANCOUVER ORIENTALS FEAR FURTHER ATTACKS. (1907, September 10).

The Daily Colonist, p. 1.

Vancouver, Sept. 9. – Twenty-four prisoners appeared in the police court today,

charged with taking part in the anti-Asiatic riots on Saturday night and Sunday. One

was committed for trial, but all the other cases were remanded for one day, and that

there might be further time to prepare information.

This afternoon the Japanese held a mass meeting on the Powell street grounds,

and all the sawmills in the city were closed for want of hands to run them. The

Chinese have also quite work in mills, restaurants and houses, and will not go back

till the trouble is over. About one third of the restaurants in the city are closed, and

those employing white labor are simply overwhelmed with business.

This morning the Chinese and Japanese began to buy firearms and weapons

wholesale, but the city authorities went round to the stores and warned them not to

sell. The sale consequently stopped, though the stores were besieged by inquirers for

the rest of the day.

On Sunday night a large crowd gathered in Chinatown, and there was some

more window breaking, but the police finally drove the white men out and kept them

back in Hastings street. Two whites were assaulted and badly beaten in the Japanese

quarters on Sunday evening. There are many rumors of other outrages, but very few

seem to have any substantial foundation.

A large number of Japs are known to be carrying arms, and it is feared that

further trouble may yet take place.

Mayor Bethune has issued a statement expressing his regret that the riot

should have occurred, and urging all citizens to moderation. Nothing but

condemnation is heard on every hand for the hoodlumism that disgraced the city on

Saturday night. It is stated that the Chinese and Japanese will make a claim against

the city for compensation for the damage to their property. Leading labor men in the

city generally deprecate the outrages as harmful to their cause.

20

There is no truth in the story of fighting in the streets on Sunday, or of

Japanese threatening to use bombs, though on Sunday evening they placed pickets

in the Japanese quarters, and placed patrols, evidently in readiness to repel an

attack.

Mr. Ishii, the Japanese envoy, is in the city and has been in conference with

Consul Morikawa today, but refuses to make any statement. He intends to leave for

Ottawa tomorrow morning.

Every store window in Chinatown and Japtown was broken on Saturday night,

but those of white people adjacent or living among them were left untouched. The

damage done must amount to many thousands of dollars, but no accurate estimate

has yet been made.

ALL QUIET AT NIGHT

At 11:30 all is quiet. All evening there were large crowds on Hastings street,

but the police kept the white men out of the Chinese and Japanese quarters, and

there was no trouble, though two Chinese were arrested armed with revolvers and

knives and carrying white badges marked “Our own patrol.” It is evident form that

they have organized a police force of their own.

The Japanese held a meeting of their own this afternoon and were addressed

by some of their leading countrymen, who advised them to act peaceably, and they

promised to do so.

The police this evening captured a box of rifles and two boxes of cartridges,

which had been sent over from New Westminster addressed to Sam Kee, a well-

known Chinese merchant.

All evening the mayor remained at the police station ready to read the riot act,

if necessary, and half a dozen mounted men were held in readiness for an emergency.

The fire brigade was also under instructions. The United Service club marched in a

body to the police station and offered their services, but they were not considered

necessary. There was no hoodlumism tonight, and at this hour the streets are quiet

and comparatively deserted.

(Associated Press Report)

FEELING OF UNREST

Vancouver, Sept. 9. – Though the rioting proper has not been resumed since

Saturday night, there is a strong undercurrent of unrest throughout the city, and it

would need little to start a racial conflict. That the Chinese and Japanese expected

more evidence of hostility is shown in the large purchases of guns, revolvers and

knives made today. Stores dealing in these were swamped with Orientals until the

mayor and solicitor visited the places of business and forbade the sale of weapons.

Since then large numbers of people have been turned away. Chinese are gathering in

defence of their property, though rather late in the day. The Oriental hands have

been called off the coast steamboats in port, and in homes throughout the city where

Chinese were engaged as domestics the women are getting the meals and doing the

work. In restaurants where they have been handy men there are none visible, and

short rations are the order of the day. It is stated that the Chinese will not return to

work until they are assured that the rioting has ceased. Both Japanese and Chinese

21

meetings are called, a big one being arranged for Tuesday night, and it may be that

the civic authorities will forbid this, as the Oriental is prone to over-excitement.

Special issues of the Japanese and Chinese papers are being published, but in these

moderation is exercised, and only the list of sufferers and those arrested are given.

In the police court today there was a large array of the offenders, and they

seemed to take the matter as a joke. If any are found guilty, it is probable that

punishment will be severe, as a lesson against hoodlumism. No cases were gone on

with, adjournments being made. Those who appeared before the magistrate were, J.

A. Pollock, Michael Markey, W. J. Rafferty, Marino Cali, James A. Calcal, James

Walsh, George Keomp, Frank Darrah, Olaf Luridzen, Alex. Waugh, B. Campbell, W.

H. Reed, Norman Bowden, Bea Bruce, John Tweedle, J. C. Ratcliffe, E. C. Johnston,

Harry Parlee, S. Cosce and. Henry Green.

There is every reason to believe that the excitement consequent upon the riot

on Saturday night is quieting down. The mayor has given assurances that the

Orientals will be fully protected, and special police have been sworn in. The Japanese

and Chinese are expected to return to work tomorrow morning. Tonight no white men

are allowed to enter the streets where the Chinese and Japanese live to prevent any

incentive to violence. At 10:30 tonight everything had quieted down in the Oriental

quarters, and it is evident that the demonstration against them is at an end. The

police were fully prepared to stem any outbreak that might have occurred, mounted

men being ready and special men sworn in, but these were not necessary. A number

of arrests were made tonight, the most important being Chinese special police. The

Chinese had a number of specials out, these being numbered 17 and 18, and when

searched at the station were found to have three revolvers, loaded. The Japanese are

also armed ready for an attack, but cordons of police are holding back the remnants

of the crowd. No further trouble is anticipated tonight, as the crowd, which came

down town more out of curiosity than anything else, is dispersing. No attempts at

violence have been made, and the arrests were accomplished without any outbreak

or unseemly conduct.

CONSULAR REPORTS

Ottawa, Sept. 9. – Mr. Nosse, consul-general for Japan, received a message

from Consul Morikawa at Vancouver, stating that the mob had damaged 56 Japanese

houses at Vancouver, and that he feared a renewal of the disturbances tonight.

Consul Nosse called upon Premier Laurier and laid before him the reports received

from Vancouver. Every effort will be made to prevent a renewal of the trouble. Asked

if any demand had been made for reparation by his government, he said he had no

doubt but the good feeling of the Canadian government could be trusted to make good

the loss without the formality of a demand by Japan. Mr. Nosse said there had been

a good deal of feeling and criticism of the American authorities for not being able to

control disorders, and Canada had been admired for the manner in which her laws

were enforced. He regretted that the American practice seemed to have crossed the

boundary in the west.

ALLEGED CHARMER INCIDENT

22

The Times last evening printed a long article giving an account of some things

that happened at Vancouver Saturday evening and also some things which did not

happen. It is marked “Special to the Times,” but is identical with what appeared in

the Post-Intelligencer of Seattle on Sunday morning. Among other misstatements is

the following paragraph:

“Just at the time when festivities were at their height, the steamer Charmer

arrived from Victoria with 500 Japanese aboard. They had come across from

Yokohama on a trans-Pacific liner and could not have arrived here at a more

inopportune moment. The only lucky feature was that the mob was otherwise

engaged. But scores of rioters scented the arrival of the brown men and started for

the Canadian Pacific wharf, where the new arrivals were debarking.

Unceremoniously seven of the Japanese were thrown into the tide. Others dropped

their luggage and fled. The men were rescued from the inlet.”

This misstatement is made out of whole cloth, as reliable evidence given by

reputable Victorians can prove. The Charmer arrived between 7.30 and 8 o’clock

Saturday evening, when the procession was just starting and long before there was

any trouble. There were probably less than 75 Japanese aboard. They landed without

molestation and went quietly up town.

F. W. Bayliss, son of the proprietor of the Queens hotel, and one of the James

Bay A. C. four that went over to Vancouver to row, was on the deck when the Charmer

came in. Mr. Bayliss said:

“We went down to meet the Charmer to put our boat aboard, and saw her come

in. There were from fifty to seventy-five Japanese on her, who landed quietly and

without molestation. There was no crowd of any kind on the dock to meet the boat,

nor was there the slightest disturbance. The Japanese hung around the dock for a

little while, till finally a couple of Japanese agents came down and the whole party

went up town. There was no one thrown into the water, nor was there any scuffle or

dispute of any kind. Absolutely nothing happened. I was there the whole time and

saw everything that took place.”

[“NO STATEMENT TO MAKE AT PRESENT”]

London, Sept. 9. – Replying to a telegraphic inquiry as to his views on the anti-

Japanese outbreak at Vancouver, Baron Komura, the Japanese ambassador, who is

spending a holiday in the country, wired today: “I have no statement to make at

present.”

The action of the Japanese embassy here, it is understood, will be governed

largely by the attitude the Canadian government assumes and whether the latter

takes steps to protect the Japanese at Vancouver from a repetition of the incidents

and recompense them for their losses.

REPORTS WERE EXAGGERATED

Frank Tamlin, who for years was well known in business and political circles

in Nelson, but who, after a sojourn in Spokane, has recently located in Vancouver,

was seen by a Colonist reporter at the Driard, and said:

“I saw the beginning of the trouble on Saturday evening from the street car,”

said Mr. Tamlin. “We were jammed by the crowd and could hardly get through. I saw

23

the governor burnt in effigy, and shortly after a man whom I have been told was an

anti-Japanese agitator from Seattle, delivered an inflammatory speech. The crowd

was excited and his speech seemed to set things going, for after [he spoke,] the rioting

began. I think the newspaper reports have very grossly exaggerated what actually

took place. Any talk of mob rule prevailing after the events of Saturday night is

nonsense. Several policemen I talked to on Sunday said the trouble had died out

altogether, and that if any hoodlums tried to create fresh disturbances they would be

very promptly dealt with. They also told me that about seven of the ring leaders had

been arrested, [and that] the others were easily managed. I heard several of the more

prominent citizens discussing the affair next morning and they expressed the opinion

that the leaders of the rioters should be sent to the penitentiary at hard labor.

Everything was absolutely normal when I left. I did not visit the Oriental quarters,

and it is possible that extra police precautions have been taken there. But in other

parts of the city everything is as usual.”

NO ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Superintendent of Provincial Police Hussey wired to Vancouver yesterday for

authentic information on the Japanese riots and received in reply a telegram to the

effect that the case was not nearly as serious as the newspaper reports would have

it. The Vancouver police department was, it was stated, amply able to cope with any

situation that might arise.

SLIGHT REFLECTION HERE

The trouble at Vancouver had but a slight reflection in this city. Indications

present here, however, go to show that the Vancouver outbreak was not a

spontaneous affair, but rather organized and well defined.

After midnight Saturday the editorial rooms were called up by “The World,”

Vancouver. The question was launched whether the windows of Lieutenant-Governor

Dunsmuir’s residence had been broken simultaneously with the burning of his honor

in effigy in the Terminal city.

Nothing of the matter, however, could be learned here.

The Chinese colony in the city was decidedly disturbed by the news of the

trouble.

All evening long the telephone wires were kept busy as the leaders of opinion

communed one with the other. Sunday afternoon a meeting was held, at which it was

decided that the Chinese colony was safe in the hands of the city police. The Japanese

residents were never in the slightest degree alarmed.

The labor leaders of the city deplore the trouble which has occurred, while with

their fellows in Vancouver, they are instant in their demand that the Dominion

authorities take action to prevent the influx of Japanese.

24

THE RIOT, AS REPORTED BY THE PROVINCE (SEP, 1907)

CHINESE BUY REVOLVERS FOR DEFENCE IN CASE OF RIOTS. (1907,

September 9). The Province, p. 1.

Law and order were lost in the vortex of mob rule which swirled and eddied

through the oriental section of Vancouver on Saturday night and during the early

hours of Sunday morning. Thousands of dollars’ worth of damage was done by the

mob to the property of the Orientals, but no violence was offered to their persons. It

was the white rioters who suffered bodily injury at the hands of the frenzied

population, who, armed with knives, broken bottles, stones and in some cases

revolvers, sought to protect their houses and chattels.

Lieutenant-Governor Dunsmuir, blamed by many people of British Columbia

in great measure for the recent large influx of Japanese, because he refused to assent

to the Bowser Natal Act, passed at the last session of the provincial legislature, was

burned in effigy by the mob early in the evening in front of the City Hall.

BURNED DUNSMUIR IN EFFIGY

Seldom has such an insult been offered in Canada to a representative of the

Crown, but the temper of the crowd on the oriental question would brook no half

measures as far as the Lieutenant-Governor was concerned.

As explained by a labor man, the burning of Dunsmuir in effigy was a protest

of the people against “autocratic rule.” He instanced the fact that the Bowser Natal

Act was passed unanimously by the representatives of the people in the Legislature.

He declared the measure represented the will of the people of British Columbia, yet

Mr. Dunsmuir had, presumably at the instance of the Ottawa Government, refused

to make possible its operation as law. It was declared by this man that the people

turned against Mr. Dunsmuir as the representative of the Crown because their

behests, constitutionally made, had been balked.

“To be burned before the City Hall,” was the inscription on the banner which

accompanied the effigy of the Lieutenant-Governor through the streets of Vancouver.

When the match was touched to the suspended figure of straw and old clothes the

crowd shouted itself hoarse with delight.

THIRTY THOUSAND ON THE STREETS

By 9 o’clock in the evening the thousands of people who could not gain

admission to the City Hall where the big anti-Asiatic mass-meeting was being held,

began to search for diversion elsewhere, and it was this crowd, disappointed at not

gaining entrance to the overflowing hall, which split into small sections, some of

which eventually consolidated into the property-smashing mob.

Thirty thousand people thronged the streets in the vicinity of the zone of

disturbance, for there was an indefinable something in the air which carried a

message of trouble impending. Curiosity held the citizens to the streets until after

midnight. Long before that time, however, the excitement was at fever heat, people

were rushing here and there about the streets, and the wildest rumors of bloodshed

were in circulation everywhere.

25

BOY STARTED THE RIOT

While the orators of the Anti-Asiatic meeting were counselling moderation

from the platform the mob of congenially violent spirits had gathered. Leaderless, it

cast about for some vent for its feelings, which was found when some youngster tossed

a brick through a window of a Chinese store on Carrall street. That act was the spark

invading [sic.] Orientalism, and in a moment the flash caught the destructive

element.

Bricks and stones started to fly in every direction, and the noise of shattered

glass falling into stores and to pavement answered the volleys of the mob. Chinese

took to their heels, running into stores and barricading doors as rapidly as possible

while the tumult lasted.

ATTACK ON JAPTOWN

Recognizing the fact that the fight of the laboring classes in this instance is

directly against the Japanese, the mob soon left the Chinese quarter and headed in

the direction of Japtown, lying in the district to the east of Westminster avenue and

north of Cordova street to the waterfront.

As the riotous gang from Carrall street poured through the streets its numbers

were augmented by hundreds of men and boys along the route of the march. The

onlookers on the sidewalks, carried along the route of march by the excitement, swept

along on the flanks and in the wake of the mob, which had grown to over a thousand

strong when it reached a corner of Westminster avenue and Powell streets, where a

number of Japanese stores and boarding-houses are located.

POLICE RESERVES CALLED OUT

By this time the police were thoroughly alive to the fact that they had a

dangerous situation to handle. The alarm had been turned in at the central station,

and men were rushed from there to Japtown, while orders were sent out calling in

patrolmen from other downtown sections and from the outlying residential districts.

By 10 o’clock in the evening practically every policeman on duty in Vancouver was on

guard either in Chinatown or Japtown.

Clubs were drawn by the bluecoats, and calls were sent in for the fire brigade

because of the fear that the mob might eventually decide to add arson to the list of its

other crimes.

BESIEGED JAPANESE STORES

The crash of broken glass and the shouts of besieged Japanese rent the air as

the mob reached the intersection of Powell street and Westminster avenue. The plate-

glass windows in a large Japanese store at the southeast corner of the street were in

small pieces in less than half a minute, and volley after volley of stones and bricks

were hurled into the interior of the shop, with consequent damage to stock.

The police on the scene were utterly unable to cope with the mass of struggling,

cursing, shouting humanity which surged back and forth under the glare of the street

arc lights. While in front the police were pushing and crowding the mob back, bricks

and stones came flying from the rear over the heads of those in the van.

The crash of glass was continual. Window after window was shattered in other

stores, and boarding-houses in the vicinity as the riotous gang pushed farther into

26

the thoroughfare lined with nests of Japanese. To the east on Powell street

considerable damage was done to the property of the Japanese, and those occupying

stores and houses on Westminster avenue south of Powell street suffered as badly.

JAPANESE FOUGHT THE MOB

It was in this stronghold of the Japanese that the besieged showed fight.

Armed with sticks, knives and broken glass bottles, the enraged aliens poured forth

into the streest as soon as the limit of their patience had been reached. Hundreds of

the little brown men rushed the attacking force, their most effective weapons being

the knives and bottles, the latter being broken off at the neck, which was held in the

hands of the Jap fighter. The broken edges of glass clustering around the necks of the

bottles made the weapons very formidable, and many a white man was badly gashed

about the arms, face and neck.

Armed only with stones, the mob could not stand before the onslaught of knives

and broken bottles propelled by the Japanese while they made the air ring with

“Banzais.” Many of the Japanese went to the ground as stones thumped against their

heads, but the insensible ones were carried off by friends, and the fight kept up till

the mob wavered, broke and finally retreated.

SEVERAL STABBING AFFRAYS

Following this encounter the Japanese established a protective service of their

own in Japtown, and the few whites whose steps led them through the district were

set upon by little bands of Japanese armed with knives, bottles and rocks. Several

stabbing affrays occurred in Japtown after the riotous scenes were over, and the

victims were whites.

In one instance, a newspaperman employed on a morning contemporary was

set upon by a crowd of Japanese as he was walking east on Powell street early on

Sunday morning. He escaped, went to the police station, returned in company with a

constable, and caused the arrest of one Japanese whom he identified as among his

assailants. It was at the peril of severe knife wounds that a white man passed through

the Japanese section after midnight.

HUNDREDS OF JAPANESE ARRIVE

While the mob was raiding the Japanese in the East End of the city, four

hundred more men of that race were swarming down the gangplank of the steamer

Charmer, fresh from Japan, via Victoria. The Charmer reached port at 7 o’clock, and

although there were a number of whites on the wharf to meet them, no violence was

offered. It was reported throughout the city that a dozen of the new arrivals had been

unceremoniously thrown into the Inlet, and that they had been rescued with

difficulty. No encounter of any nature occurred on the wharf.

The Japanese who came from Victoria on the Charmer, arrived on this coast

by one of the transpacific liners calling at Victoria. Hundreds of them come in this

way every month, debarking at Victoria from the ocean liners and crossing the Gulf

to Vancouver.

POLICE BARRICADED STREETS

By 11 o’clock the detached sections of the mob had all gathered at the corner

of Carrall and Hastings street. There the police had stretched a cordon of bluecoats

27

across the street to prevent the mob rushing Chinatown. Chief of Police Chamberlin

had thrown out guards all over Chiantown to keep the crowds out. The mob fruitlessly

tried entrance after entrance, and almost succeeded in breaking through at the rear

by way of the C. P. R. tracks, but reinforcements of police shut them out in that

direction.

FATAL MOVEMENT AVERTED

Threats of arson had brought the Fire Brigade to Carrall street, and several

lines of hose were laid and attached to hydrants in readiness for emergencies.

The pushing, roaring crowd held back by the police at the corner of Hastings

and Carrall streets were crowding the barricading force of bluecoats very hard, when

it occurred to the police that it would be a fine thing to turn a line of fire hose on the

mob.

Chief of Police Chamberlin was warned against permitting his men to use the

fire hose in this manner. It was pointed out to him that the mob was in fairly good

humor, and comparatively easy to handle, but if water was turned on nothing short

of a sanguinary riot would occur. The Chief realized the wisdom of this advice, and

no attempt was made to try the “water cure.”

Had the fire hose been used against the mob, bloodshed would undoubtedly

have resulted, and it would not have been long before Chinatown would have been a

mass of flames, and Japtown would undoubtedly have been visited again with

disastrous results both to rioters and Japanese.

ADVISED MOB TO DISPERSE

Speakers from the City Hall meeting had been requisitioned to talk to the mob

at the corner of Hastings and Carrall street, with the idea of holding them back from

Chinatown. Several arrived, and Mr. A. E. Fowler, secretary of the Seattle Anti-

Asiatic League, climbed out on the guy wire of a telephone pole. The mob was calmed

and listened to him, though those on the outskirts of the crowd, who could hear

nothing of what was being said, kept up a fusillade of rocks which smashed the glass

in the windows of every oriental store within a stone’s throw. The crowd was advised

to disperse, but it was hours before the streets were clear at this point.

Prowling bands of white men were on the streets till daylight on Sunday

searching for Japanese or Chinese. The aliens, however, warned by what had befallen

them earlier in the evening and counselled by Japanese Consul Morikawa, kept

indoors, and gradually the fighting spirit and excitement died out, the strugglers

dispersed, and daylight disclosed nothing worse than wrecked store fronts and

smashed windows in the Chinese and Japanese sections.

WHAT WILL THE RESULT BE?

While the riotous conduct of the street crowd met with general disapprobation

on the part of prominent members of the Oriental Exclusion League, there is no use

in attempting to conceal the fact that it is felt by many people that the trouble will

precipitate a solution of the difficulty occasioned by the inrush of hordes of Japanese

coolies.

“I feel very sorry that the mob broke loose,” declared a prominent member of

the Exclusion League today, “but as no lives were lost and no damage done beyond a

28

few thousand dollars’ worth of broken glass, I cannot but feel that the attention of the

provincial, federal and imperial authorities will now be so attracted that they will be

forced to recognize the fact that British Columbia’s people will not permit this country

to be made the dumping ground of yellow cheap labor.

VANCOUVER NOT TO BLAME

“It is declared by some that the good name of the city has been injured, but as

no serious damage was done I think that it is a far-fetched statement. The people of

British Columbia have passed resolution after resolution on this Asiatic question and

no attention has been paid to their complaints by the federal or imperial authorities.

The people have now reached that stage where their patience is about exhausted, and

if we can purchase a solution of the difficulty for a few thousand dollars’ worth of

plate glass, it is well.

“The people of Vancouver are in no wise to blame. The federal Government has

paid no attention to the demands that Japanese should be prevented from entering

the country in thousands every month, and this inaction at Ottawa is responsible for

the row which broke out on Saturday. Unless some such trouble had occurred,

protests would have continued to pass unheeded. Now, I expect that Ottawa and the

imperial authorities will realize that the people here are not fooling, and will take

steps to prevent a recurrence of trouble.”

THE CHINESE STRIKE (SEP, 1907)

HUNDREDS OF CHINESE STRIKE. (1907, September 9). The Province, p. 1.

Angered by the treatment they had received at the hands of the mob on

Saturday night, a number of tyee Chinamen met in conference yesterday, and decided

to call a general strike of all Chinese workmen in Vancouver and vicinity.

The strike went into effect this morning, and the ticklish situation is further

complicated as a consequence. Hotels, restaurants, saloons, private houses, steamers,

logging camps and shingle bolt camps, railways and other institutions employing

Chinese help are without their hoys [sic.] to-day. In nearly every instance the Chinese

deserted their employment without vouchsafing any reason.

In order that there should be no possibility of a failure of the general strike the

tyee Chinese used threats very freely, many of the individual Chinese being

intimidated by declarations that unless they walked out they would be killed; others

were informed that they would be fined $100 by some of the tongs to which they owed

allegiance unless they stopped work.

CHAOS IN RESTAURANTS

The strike of Chinese first became generally known when hundreds of people

attended to breakfast at downtown restaurants. Only those places which employed

white help exclusively were able to open their doors, and they did an enormous trade.

In restaurants where Chinese cooks and helpers held sway, yesterday chaos reigned,

waitresses rushed excitedly around and prospective patrons stormed, but it was no

use – doors had to be closed for the time being.

29

Later in the day white help was secured in some of these restaurants, and they

are again doing business, but it will be several days before an adequate supply of

white kitchen help can be secured. Last night the Cooks and Waiters’ Union advised

all places employing Chinese that the strike would be declared, offering to replace the

Orientals with whites. The proprietors believed this information was in the nature of

a bluff, and paid no attention to it. To-day, however, the union has received a number

of applications for help, and while some has been placed efforts are being made to

advise cooks and other help across the line of the situation, so that men may come

here to take the place of the Chinese.

DESERTED PRIVATE HOUSES

In the west end of the city, where hundreds of Chinese are employed in private

houses, there was great dismay when it developed that no kitchen help had

decamped. Housewives to whom the kitchen is an unknown quantity were forced to

roll up their sleeves, don their old clothes and prepare breakfast. Husbands fumed

and fretted, but had to make the best of the situation.

Five o’clock tea parties have been cancelled, charitable work has become a

secondary consideration, days at home are being wiped from the slate and calling lists

placed in the stove in order that the ladies may have time to attend strictly to

business at their own homes.

Chinese employed in private houses who had not appeared in Chinatown last

night, where posters calling the strike were displayed on windows, doorways and

telephone poles, were called out over the telephone or by special walking delegate

either last night or this morning. Celestials in the midst of preparing breakfast

dropped everything when the call came. In many cases they refused to state why they

were leaving, but in others they volunteered the information that all Chinese were

going on strike and those who did not obey the order would be killed.

In the sawmills where Chinese help is employed the strike situation did not

take shape till well toward noon. Then the management of some mills were notified

that the Chinese would strike some time during the day. In other mills the

management believes that it will be able to head off the stampede. There is nothing

certain, however, that the desertion of the mill plants will not be general, in which

event great inconvenience will be suffered and in some cases it is likely that mills will

have to close down temporarily.

All day long Chinese cooks and helpers employed at logging camps in the

vicinity of the city have been pouring into Vancouver in answer to the strike

summons. They declare that they will not return to work till ordered to do so by those

who called the strike, and in many quarters the Chinese Reform Association is

blamed as being responsible for the strike.

STEAMERS LOSE COOKS

Steamship companies operating vessels out of Vancouver are at their wits’ end

to provide cooks for their boats. As fast as steamers arrive in port, the walking

delegates of the all-powerful Chinese Union, secret society, tong or whatever is the

mysterious authority behind the strike movement, appears with the order calling on

30

the cooks and helpers to quit work. Implicit obedience has been the rule whenever

this summons has been presented.

The tugboat men are in the same fix. The cooks on those boats in port yesterday

and this morning were prompt in striking and boats arriving today were deserted by

their Chinese help almost as soon as hawsers were made fast to the wharves.

ASIATICS UNDER ARMS IN VANCOUVER CITY. (1907, September 10). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

Vancouver, Sept. 9. – The Combined Chinese and Japanese organization this

afternoon made overtures to the Hindus to join them in an industrial strike all

through the district. The Hindus refused on the ground that they were British

subjects.

CHINESE RETURN TO WORK TO-MORROW. (1907, September 10). The Province, p. 1.

The Chinese domestics, gardeners, and the servant class generally, decided at

noon to-day that they would return to their respective places of employment to-

morrow morning. This decision was reached at a conference of tyee Chinese, who have

satisfied themselves that all danger of personal violence to their countrymen has

passed.

The Chinese have since Saturday night been greatly in fear of violence; indeed,

not a few of them claim to have been victims of assault at the hands of rowdies. It has

only been with the greatest difficulty that the Chinese have been convinced that they

run no risk by leaving Chinatown. It has been explained to the coolie class by the tyee

Chinese that the better element of the city will see that ample protection is afforded

them.

All Chinese employed in restaurants will also return to work to-morrow

morning according to the edict issued in Chinatown at noon to-day. Notices calling

upon the men to return to their employment will be posted in Chinatown this

afternoon.

CHINESE RETURN TO HOTEL VANCOUVER. (1907, September 11). The Province, p. 1.

The Chinese help in the laundry and kitchen of the Hotel Vancouver resumed

work this morning. They exceed sixty in number. Since Sunday night when they went

off duty, they have been in retirement in the Chinese quarter.

Their return early this morning was hailed with delight by the management

as well as the staff of overworked white waiters, who have been broiling, fuming and

sweating over the red-hot cooking ranges for forty-eight hours. In order to keep up

the best traditions of the hostelry every white employee worked with a will and

practically remained on duty continuously.

31

The Chinese help, still in fear that the troubles are not over, stipulated with

Manager Cummings that they be provided with sleeping accommodation in the hotel.

To this proposition Mr. Cummings readily agreed. The Orientals will be provided

with beds in the basement until they feel satisfied that they will not be murdered

when they return to Chinatown.

THE RIOT, AS REPORTED BY THE VAN. WORLD (SEP, 1907)

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST ASIATICS TERMINATES IN ANTI-ORIENTAL

RIOT. (1907, September 9). The Vancouver World, p. 1.

Two nights of rioting and destruction of property have left Vancouverits with

a new sensation and have given the city much undesirable notoriety. In the European

and Asiatic mind, as well as in the American and Cnadaian, this city has, by the

disgraceful folly of a few young men and boys, been placed in the disorderly class and

today, too, the Chinese and Japanese quarters are armed to the teeth and burning

with resentment of the treatment given them by a mob.

But while Vancouverites feel keenly the disgrace of the disorder that followed

the anti-Asiatic parade on Saturday night, they can honestly deny that the character

of the Vancouver people is lawless. It was evident to all eye-witnesses that the

number of people who threw bricks and tones that wrecked so many Chinese and

Japanese fronts on Saturday night was very small. The crowd was big, but it was

swelled by the most good-natured lot of people that ever got classed as a destructive

mob. The fact that nothing more serious developed and that the police, in spite of

their small numbers, could prevent anything more serious than the breaking of glass

occurring, proves what was really the case, namely, that almost the entire crowd was

simply there to see what was going on. Theater people know that this is the best show

town on the coast, and Vancouverites simply treated the window breaking as a show.

They were there to see the fun.

It was a very small crowd of about 20 or 30 irresponsibles that started the

trouble and kept it going. The organizers of and active workers in the legitimate

demonstration that ended in speeches at the city hall are in no way to be held

responsible for the incidents that followed. As a matter of fact, the gang of hoodlums

started its work of smashing on Dupont street while the meeting was still in progress.

When the rioters got through Chinatown it looked like a wreck. Every Chinese

window was broken. Thousands of dollars’ worth of plate glass lay in fragments; and

then a start was made on Powell street, where not a Japanese window was spared.

The mob respected the Japanese mission building, but showed no mercy even to the

little private houses of Japanese residents. They did not get off quite free, though, the

Japanese being more or less armed with clubs and bottles, which they used with

damaging effect on a few heads. The Japs, in their turn, state that two of them were

injured by stones thrown by the mob.

As the mob surged through the streets of the Asiatic quarters, though

composed chiefly of peacable citizens, bent on seeing what was going on, it was

32

impossible for the police to tell who threw the stones that from time to time hurled

over the heads of the crowds into the windows. All the police could do was to keep the

mob moving, and after a while, to clear Chinatown and keep it clear by putting a rope

and a cordon of police across the end of Carrall street – opposite the Woods’ hotel. The

fire department was held in readiness all night and was out on several false alarms,

but one engine was kept in Chinatown for emergencies.

On Sunday there was much activity in Chiantown and along Powell street

where the Japanese have located themselves chiefly since coming here. All down

Dupont street, on both sides of Canton and Shanghai alleys on Carrall street and

Columbia avenue, ,not a Chinese window had been missed. Great holes yawned in

plate glass a quarter of an inch thick. Some Celestials stood stoically surveying the

night’s work by the light of Sunday’s sunshine; others were busy nailing boards over

their wrecked fronts, while curious sightseers, whites, Hindoos and Japanese, men,

women and children, gazed on the unusual spectacle of a mob’s work in Vancouver.

Not for twenty years, when the workmen who had helped to build the C. P. R. and

clear Vancouver townsite started to drive the Chinamen out of the infant city, has

anything of the kind occurred. Then they kept the Chinamen from returning by

building bonfires in the streets and patrolling all night. The Victoria militia and a

warship from Esquimalt made a fast trip here to put an end to that.

Down Powell street the mob had done its work as systematically as in

Chinatown. Not a Japanese escaped with undamaged windows. Stores, boarding

houses and private houses were alike assaulted and the temper of the Japanese

population was very ugly as the brown men compared notes on the damage done. Just

46 Japanese buildings had been assaulted, including the Japanese bank, and the

owners were getting photographs taken of the results. These will not only be seen at

the Japanese foreign office but will doubtless be reproduced in the newspapers and

magazines of Japan.

Nothing could be more systematic than the determination with which the mob

picked out Japanese and Chinese windows and spared those right adjoining if they

were those of whites. On Columbia avenue, for example, all the Chinese windows

were broken and those of two white real estate brokers were left whole. On

Westminster avenue where white and Asiatic business places are mingled together,

McArthur’s real estate office was respected but the adjoining plate glass of Kwong

Yuen was broken. The Japanese General Contract Co. and others were smashed.

Kawasaki, store keeper on the corner of the avenue and Powell, lost his windows and,

as an exception, a stone has struck and broken the adjoining window of the Queen’s

hotel, but it was obviously done by accident and was the only case in many where the

windows of whites and Asiatics adjoined that the whites suffered. The Dominion

Laundry windows were broken and they were the only case of deliberate smashing of

a white man’s windows. This case was just as obviously deliberate as that of the

Queen’s was accidental.

The work thus done by the mob from nine o’clock at night until close on to three

o’clock on Sunday morning, when the sound of breaking glass was still heard

occasionally, caused damage which will run into the thousands of dollars for glass

33

alone, and the injury the city has suffered in reputation is hard to compute in dollars

and cents. […]

Last night there was a great change noticeable in the attitude of both Chinese

and Japanese. Both were practically standing under arms and both stated openly

that there would be bloodshed if any further attempts were made on them by the

mob. The Chinese mostly kept indoors, with all lights out in the front of the buildings,

but the Japanese paraded in front of their houses on Powell street and had pickets

posted at the approaches of the Japanese quarter. These men were all armed with

clubs or guns or knives or all three. Revolvers stuck out of hip pockets, sheath knives

hung from belts and the least sign of disturbance caused doors to open and more men,

armed even with axes, to appear.

THE AFTERMATH, REPORTED BY THE COLONIST (SEP, 1907)

STORM IN VANCOUVER HELPS TO PRESERVE THE PEACE. (1907, September

11). The Daily Colonist, p. 1.

Vancouver, Sept. 10. – A heavy rain squelched the last embers of the riot

tonight, and the sirens resumed their normal condition. The Japanese have all gone

back to work, and it is understood that the Chinese will return in the morning. In the

meantime many restaurants are tied up for want of domestics.

At a special meeting of the city council held this evening a by-law was passed

prohibiting jiu jitsu exhibitions in the city. This is aimed to prevent a match

announced to take place in Recreation park on Thursday night before McLagan and

the Japanese Kanada. It was felt that this was necessary, as it might lead to further

disturbance. Mayor Bethune announced that at the request of Consul Morikawa he

had sent a telegram to Colonel Holmes, D. O. C., asking that the militia be placed at

their disposal if necessary, and Colonel Holmes had replied that he had instructed

Major Boultbee in Vancouver to place the Sixth regiment at the disposal of the mayor

of necessary. The mayor at the same time expressed the conviction and hope that they

would not be needed. The following telegram was sent in reply to a dispatch received

from Sir Wilfrid Laurier deprecating injury to Japanese:

“Premier of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. – Telegram of 9th received. Please assure

his excellency that disturbance which occasioned so much damage to property, but

not to persons, is being kept under control by strong public sentiment. Disturbances

were directed against Asiatics generally rather than against Japanese. The offenders,

who were apprehended, numbering 20, are now before the courts of justice. (Signed)

Alex. Bethune, Mayor.”

The chief of police was authorized to swear in as many specials as he might

need.

One more arrest was made today of a man named McClaren, who was

conspicuous in the riots on Saturday. In the police court two rioters were committed

for trial, and one man was fined $50 for resisting a policeman. Six Orientals were

fined $10 each for carrying concealed weapons. Tonight a house was burned down on

34

Westminster avenue, and there was a small fire at Hasting’s sawmill. Both were

purely accidental, being caused by the high wind driving sparks, and no incendiarism

is suspected. The house was a shack at the rear of another, and the damage was not

great.

(Associated Press Report)

Vancouver, Sept. 10. – Stringent measures are not relaxed by the police, and

mounted men are patrolling the streets tonight. A heavy thunderstorm which swept

over the city between seven and eight o’clock did more to keep the crowd at home

than anything else. There are comparatively few around town, but cordons of police

guard the Oriental quarters, and no white people are allowed in. An apprehensive

feeling still prevails, but it is expected that the Chinese will resume their duties in

the morning and hotel and restaurant life will be normal.

An instance of how little will arouse excitement was shown this evening when

two fire alarms were rung in. It was thought at first that hoodlums were taking

advantage of the storm to start further damage, and following the hose wagons was

a small crowd, dashing through the rain. It transpired that the wind swept sparks

into a sawmill yard, starting a blaze that was soon extinguished. The other alarm

was caused by electric wires.

A special meeting of the city council was held privately tonight, discussing the

matter generally, particularly reparation. No formal claims are yet filed, but either

the city or the government will make full financial amends.

The body of a Chinaman was found dead this morning, who had committed

suicide by hanging. It was at first suggested that this was a murder, but investigation

showed that his mental condition was impaired, he being old.

Consul Morikawa has asked that the mayor have the militia called out for

protection, but his worship declares there is no necessity of this, for since Saturday

night no unseemly occurrence has been noted. On Monday night it was stated that

an attempt was made to [set] fire [to] the Japanese mission, but as the quarter was

strongly guarded the police cannot see how any one could have gone to such a public

place without first having been detected. The belief is that the Japanese themselves

put the oily waste under the building to arouse suspicion.

In the police court today there was a great array of riot cases, and bowie knives

and revolvers formed conspicuous exhibits. Many Orientals were up for carrying

concealed offensive weapons, and in cases that were tried the minimum fine of $10

was imposed, the magistrate holding that they had provocation. That the authorities

will not countenance any opposition to law and order was shown in the action of the

magistrate in imposing a fine of $100 on a young man who attempted to pass the

police into Chinatown. He said he was intoxicated and did not know what he was

doing, but as he was not badly so, the magistrate concluded he knew what he was

doing. This is the first case of the whites in which a conclusion has been reached. In

one other case a young man charged with rioting was sent up for trial. Other cases

are now proceeding.

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OTTAWA, JAPAN AND THE TREATY (SEP, 1907)

OPINION ON RIOTS IN THE CAPITAL. (1907, September 9). The Victoria Daily Times, p. 1.

(Special to the Times). Ottawa, Sept. 9. – The general opinion in official circles

is that Canada will have to pay the shot and apologize to Japan for damages caused

by Vancouver rowdies to property of the Japanese in the city. It is regretted that the

outbreak took place at a time when the Japanese immigration question was all but

solved between the governments of Canada and Japan. Those who are responsible for

the destruction of property will no doubt be prosecuted. It is also thought here that

there has been too much strong talk by the advocates of the Japanese as well as those

who are opposed to Japanese labor.

Hon. R. W. Scott, secretary of state, in being interviewed said that the treaty

between Canada and Japan ratified by the Canadian parliament at its last session

was perfectly clear as to the rights of the Japanese in Canada. The treaty says: “The

subjects of each of the two high contracting parties shall have full liberty to enter at,

or reside at any port of the Dominion and possessions of the other contracting party

and shall enjoy full and perfect protection of their property.”

“The treaty was not adopted in a hurry,” said Mr. Scott. “It was in force

between Britain and Japan 10 years before we became a party to it. It was given full

consideration before we adopted it.” […]

The Dominion government has made good progress in the direction of making

an amicable arrangement with Japan restricting immigration to about 500 arrivals

in Canada in one year, no matter from where they came, and it is hoped here that the

disturbances will in no way interfere with the negotiations.

JAPANESE ARE NOT IN THE LEAST ALARMED. (1907, September 11). The Daily Colonist, p. 7.

H. B. Thomson, M. P. P., who returned yesterday from a trip to Vancouver,

says that quiet reigned in the Terminal City when he left, though the Japanese were

still patrolling the sections where they live. He says that they do not seem alarmed

but appear to be quite confident of their ability to take care of themselves. There are

a great many Japanese in Vancouver, and many were coming in on every train from

Steveston. They spoke of a parade with four thousand Japanese in line, but this was

abandoned. Mr. Thomson says there is no rioting or drunkenness among the

Japanese, who appear to obey the orders of their head men implicitly. He added:

“One thing amazed me. The effigy of the representative of the crown was

carried round the streets in the afternoon and it was publicly announced that it would

be burned that evening before the city hall. The civic authorities could not help

knowing what was going to happen, but they took no steps to stop it nor to prepare

for possible serious consequences. Everybody knows that there is always a gang of

hoodlums ready for mischief on such occasions.”

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THE C.C.B.A. RESPONDS TO THE RIOTS (SEP, 1907)

CHINESE ASK THAT PROTECTION BE GIVEN. (1907, September 11). The Daily Colonist, p. 7.

Hon. W. J. Bowser, attorney-general, who returned form Vancouver yesterday

morning, was waited upon by a delegation of Chinamen representing the Chinese

Consolidated Benevolent Society of this city, which has affiliations in Vancouver.

The delegation, consisting of Lee Mong Kow, Lim Bang, a representative from

Vancouver and Mr. Moresby, solicitor of the association, stated that they were in

receipt of a request from the Vancouver body that they call upon the provincial

authorities, lay the situation in Vancouver before them and request them to take

steps to protect the life and property of the Celestials in the Terminal city.

Mr. Bowser informed the delegation that he believed that the police of

Vancouver were perfectly [cap]able of keeping any lawless movement in check. The

riot of Saturday evening had taken the chief of police by surprise, but he had

immediately taken vigorous steps to bring the matter under control. He had on

Saturday night, when the mob attempted to visit Chinatown a second time, prevented

its so doing, and all day Sunday and Monday he had shown that the Vancouver police

were quite able to protect the Asiatic quarter.

The delegation upon these representations of Mr. Bowser expressed

themselves perfectly satisfied.

They were particularly anxious to know whether the rioters arrested would be

prosecuted. Mr. Bowser informed them that they would be prosecuted at the next

assizes.

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ANOTHER REPORT BY THE COLONIST (SEP, 1907)

NO FURTHER TROUBLE APPARENT IN VANCOUVER. (1907, September 12). The Daily Colonist, p. 1.

Vancouver, Sept. 11. – The steamer Monteagle arrived here this afternoon. All

her passengers were landed without trouble, but 103 were held in the detention shed.

Mayor Bethune telegraphed to Ottawa asking for the use of the drill hall to lodge

them. A subscription has been started, headed by City Solicitor Cowan, who

subscribed $100, to send a carload shipment to Ottawa as a specimen. The

subscription list is being readily filled.

All the Chinese cooks and waiters have returned to hotels and restaurants,

and now the white cooks and waiters are threatening to strike.

Conditions are now quite normal here.

(Associated Press Report)

Vancouver, Sept. 11. – The quiet which followed the rioting of Saturday night

is being disturbed today by the arrival of 900 Hindus, 150 Chinese and 50 Japanese.

A large crowd is witnessing the debarkation, but no violence is feared. Their arrival,

though, at this time serves to keep alive any smouldering fires against the Orientals,

and the tramp steamer Woolwich is due here with three hundred more Japanese.

Today there is no further indication of trouble. Chinese cooks are back to work

and life is once more normal in hotels and restaurants.

The following telegram was sent today to Sir Wilfrid Laurier by Mayor

Bethune: “Nine hundred Hindus arriving today on steamer Monteagle. Neither

accommodation nor employment for them, nor is it possible to house them under

sanitary conditions. Shall we house them in drill hall at government expense?”

The suggestion has been made to charter a special train, and send the Hindus

across the continent.

The city council decided to keep on mounted and special men until quiet is

thoroughly restored, and further will augment the regular force by fifteen men. The

opinion was expressed that irresponsible correspondents have been sending out

distorted and fictitious matter relative to the riot, which had caused a wrong

impression. As far as bodily harm is concerned, the whites have suffered almost

altogether, no Japanese having been hurt enough to have been mentioned. The

Chinese have had more property damaged than the Japanese, but the Japanese have

made the most noise through their representatives, having been more excited.

The situation is quiet, though with the landing of more Asiatics today the police

are ready to quell any commotion that may result.

The city will oppose any attempt to make it pay damages, holding that as the

government is the primary cause in allowing immigration in disregard of repeated

protests, it should foot any bills.

REPORTED AT OTTAWA

Ottawa, Sept. 11. – There were no developments here today in the Japanese

question. Sir Wilfrid Laurier received a telegram from Mayor Bethune, stating that

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the recent riots were not directed particularly against the Japanese, but against

Orientals in general. The mayor reported everything now quiet.

R. G. Macpherson, M. P., this afternoon sent a telegram to his constituents, in

which he endeavored to allay the condition of unrest prevalent in the city. He told the

people of Vancouver that no good would be done by rioting. It was important that

nothing should be done which would further excite public opinion. The federal

government was in negotiations with the Japanese government and he was confident

that a satisfactory solution of the problem would be reached if good counsels prevailed

and there was no further disturbance.

THE NEWS IN JAPAN

Tokio, Sept. 11. – The publication of extended accounts concerning the trouble

at Vancouver has not developed any further criticism by the press. The public accepts

the outbreak as the action of irresponsible who must be punished.

The Hochi, which was the most outspoken newspaper here regarding the

recent Japanese difficulty in San Francisco, in an editorial this morning says: “The

trouble in Vancouver appears to be over and was confined to one city. Japan can safely

leave her interests in the hands of Premier Laurier, who has always been friendly.

There is no reason why the people should feel uneasy over the outcome.” The Hochi

is considered to be a representative of popular sentiment.