By Mabel Lum Lew
Walter U. Lum (1882·1961) was an American Chinese pioneer and civic leader in the San Francisco Bay area. Among his most notable achievements are the co1ounding of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and the founding of the San Francisco based Chinese language newspaper, The Chinese Times. In a life of service to the Chinese American community, he constantly fought discrimination against Chinese, particularly in U.S. immigration practices and laws.
Mabel Lew is the eldest of Mr. Lum ‘s seven children. She resides in Inglewood, California. The following account contains excerpts from her written na”ation of her father’s life and history. Part I was published in the GUM SAAN JOURNAL, Vol. I, No. 1; the second and concluding portion is presented herein.
Munson Kwok
In the early 1900’s, several hundred Chinese had settled in Mexico, establishing various kinds of businesses. In 1916-17 hostilities broke out along the U.S.-Mexico border. A guerrilla army, headed by the colorful Pancho Villa, embarked on a reign of terror against the Americans, raiding the town of Columbus, New Mexico, and killing several residents. President Woodrow Wilson’s reply was to send 6000 troupes under General John “Black Jack” Pershing’s command to enter Mexico and search out and destroy Villa and his guerrilla bands. After this campaign, Gen. Pershing received orders to escort the 427 Chinese out of Mexico for their own safety, thus avoiding the possibility of strained relations between the United States and China should any of the Chinese citizens become injured or killed during the hostilities. The refugees were taken to Fort Sam Houston in Texas. At this time, the Chinese Ambassador requested the Chinese Six Companies in San Francisco to send one of its members to assist the refugees, who could speak Chinese and Spanish, but very little English. Walter Lum was unanimously selected for this undertaking. At Fort Sam Houston, he was camp manager, interpreter, and coordinator of all activities. His responsibilities also required that he explain and maintain the rules of the camp as set down by Chinese Consul General T. K. Fong. These rules prohibited any form of gambling. When Walter tried to enforce the no-gambling edict, a small group of pro-gamblers tried to bribe him. When he refused their offer, the group tried to jeopardize his job by writing letters to the Chinese newspapers and the Six Companies, defaming his conduct and alleging that he was vicious and cruel to the refugees. These accusations angered Walter, who decided to turn in his resignation to the Chinese Ambassador in Washington, D.C. On investigation, it was disclosed that the allegations were entirely false. The Ambassador then took action to force the Chinese newspapers to retract their statements.
Editor’s note: The story of these Chinese refugees is a fascinating vignette in Western history. Eventually, they received permanent residency by act of Congress in. a time of anti-Chinese sentiment. The saga involving both moral courage and perfidy is told by Edward Eugene Briscoe in “Pershing’s· Chinese Refguees in Texas”, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 62, No. 4, April 1959
Soon after Walter resigned from his job at Fort Sam Houston, he was offered a position as vice-president and managing director of the Chinese-owned China Mail Steamship Lines, which had ships sailing the Pacific from .Asia to the west coast. Trouble had been brewing for some time. A number of stockholders, infuriated because dividends had not been distributed for several years, decided to take matters into their own hands. To prove their anger toward the officers of the Steamship Lines, a “highbinder”, hired by one of the “tongs”, killed the vice-president, Fong Jook Gain. Obviously, Walter was hesitant to accept the vacant position, but he decided to undertake the risk in order to support his family. At this time, the officers of the company went into hiding. Their names had been black-listed in the Chinese newspapers, and there were death threats by the “tongs”. As vice-president, Walter’s life was also threatened. He and the other officers used a large mansion outside of Chinatown as their hiding-place, living in constant fear for their lives. Occasionally, Walter would venture out to visit his family, followed by two bodyguards, one of whom would blow a whistle to indicate when conditions were safe enough for Walter to enter his family’s apartment. In time, Walter was able to resolve a number of the company’s problems. A new election was due, and he was considered for the presidency. Two of the officers objected to this recommendation; it was felt that since Walter did not hold shares in the company, he should not have the highest office. To avoid further trouble, Walter resigned from his post as vice-president.
In 1924 Walter Lum started THE CHINESE TIMES and helped to found the Chinese Times Publishing Company. The corporation was voluntarily financed by member friends and various lodges in the Chinese American Citizens .Alliance. Walter was editor, managing editor, vice-president, and finally president of the publishing company. He worked there for the rest of his life, and devoted over thirty-five years to the paper.
Editor’s Note The San Francisco-based Chinese Times is a highly respected Chinese language newspaper, well known in the Chinese communities in North America. At one time in the mid-1960’s it could rightfully claim to be the only Chinese language daily owned, edited and published by American citizens. Its policy is to publish only authentic news and to provide a bridge for understanding between democratic ideals and Chinese cultural traditions.
In later years, Walter Lum was prominent in battles to gain non-quota status for Chinese wives and for repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. He also developed a course in basic Chinese to be taught to youngsters of the second and succeeding generations.
The Chinese American Citizens .Alliance paid tribute to Mr. Lum in its 1963 Convention yearbook. The dedication reads, in part:
“Throughout most of his life, Walter Lum sought to do good for the American people of Chinese ancestry, spending his time unselfishly, to plead their cause before the Immigration Committees in Congress and wherever his services were needed.
As one of the founders of the Native Sons of the Golden State, he helped, in 1904, to form the Grand Parlor of the N.S.G.S. under its original charter granted in 1895, and helping to guide it until it became a statewide, and subsequently, a nationwide organization. In 1915 the name was changed to the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
He served as Grand President in 1912, 1914, 1915 to 1917, 1923 to 1929,
and 1933 to 1935.
In gratitude for his services as Grand President for so many years, and for his help in fighting for the legal and civil rights of the Chinese American citizens, we dedicate this 1963 Convention yearbook to the memory of Walter U. Lum.”
Walter Lum was a man of many facets — he was a loyal American citizen who, at the same time, was fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage; he was a dedicated community participant, a fighter for good causes, a friend to many. He was also a man of foresight — a man with far-reaching ideas, whose ultimate goal was to see that his generation and future generations of Chinese Americans enjoy the best of two worlds: the economic opportunity and democratic freedom of the West, along with a continuing pride in the honorable and ancient Chinese culture of the East.
(The fellowing article describing a Chinese funeral was printed in the Los Angeles Daily Evening Express, August 30, 1878. The GUM SAAN JOURNAL is presenting the account exactly as it was written 100 years ago.)