The Mob That Stopped a Cannery

Mr. Herrick has notified President Hewitt of the Everett Land Company that until he gets some assurance that he will be protected from the mob of loafers who warn him not to employ Chinese in his cannery, he will not attempt to operate the institution at all. Since the receipt of anonymous letters a week ago, two men have protested to him personally against bringing Chinese here. One of them threatened to kick the 'moon-eyed lepers' off the dock when they landed. Mr. Herrick has already invested over $30,000 in his plant, and before he is ready to begin operations, over $50,000 total will have been expended. He has stopped work and had the machinery sidetracked in Seattle until the matter is settled. He expresses a perfect willingness to employ white labor if anyone will find him white men to do the work, but he is confident this cannot be done, as in no cannery on the coast is other than Chinese labor employed in this particular department. Only one Chinaman to four whites is to be employed, and they would be kept out of town. The mayor and council have been appealed to for protection, but they can render no assistance because the cannery is not inside the corporate limits.