The Riotous Push for Exclusion
A massive, chaotic anti-Chinese protest in Tacoma turns violent, drowning out local leaders who argue for the legal rights of Chinese merchants.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Tacoma, July 25.—From 8,000 to 10,000 people attended a mass-meeting tonight to consider the question of the readmission of Chinese. W. A. Ryan presided. The meeting was called by a committee of the Trades Council acting with the Committee of Fifteen, and for this reason many considered it would be an anti-Chinese gathering. There was, however, a large representation of business men and prominent citizens, who want Chinese merchants admitted to carry on business in connection with the Northern Pacific Oriental steamships. The anti-Chinese speakers were Stephen O’Brien, B. F. Hetston and Dr. Taylor. Jacob Ralph, of the committee of fifteen, was listened to with much attention, but order could not be maintained when those favoring Chinese merchants, Frederick Mottet, Mayor Huson, J. M. Steele and Galusha Parsons, spoke. Parsons especially was subjected to indignity by the hooting of the anti-Chinese crowd. He attempted to read resolutions favoring the admission of Chinese merchants, but the voices of those who oppose Chinese in any form prevented all but those near the speaker from hearing. The chairman could not decide the vote either way on the resolution on account of the uproar. Resolutions opposing the Chinese came next, and the chairman decided them carried.
“Parsons especially was subjected to indignity by the hooting of the anti-Chinese crowd.”
This event captures the period of state-sanctioned hostility toward Chinese residents in the Pacific Northwest, a legacy that shaped the region's demographics for decades. It reflects the deep-seated tension between economic interests—represented here by local business leaders—and the nativist movements that sought to force out immigrant populations through intimidation and legislative bans.
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