THE DAILY PROVINCE
NOVEMBER 6, 1907

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HOW POLICE THE CITY AGAINST
ASIATIC HORDES?
------------------Problem Presented at the Inquiry Before
Commissioner King.

------------------NEED TEN TIMES OUR FORCE.
------------------That Was the Reply of Inspector Mulhern, Star Witness
Tuesday.

------------------“Ten times the number of Vancouver’s present police force could not
afford sufficient protection against the hordes of Orientals coming in as they
have been, twelve hundred on one ship and a thousand on another.”
Inspector Mulhern so replied to Commissioner King in the inquiry late
yesterday afternoon. City Solicitor Cowan suggested the question and the
Inspector gave the answer in support of his previous statements regarding the
sufficiency of the police in time of peace.
“Without this influx the present staff of the city police would be
adequate,” said the inspector. But not with this flood of alien races.”
But the Cost of it
The Commissioner--Do you think the riot would occur again?
The Inspector--It might.
“Have you informed the Mayor?”

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NOVEMBER 6, 1907

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“I have not.”
“Or the Chief of Police?”
“Oh, it is generally understood.”
“Well, sighed the Commissioner, “if that is the opinion of the Vancouver
police I think the city should be informed as to the great responsibility resting
upon the authorities.”
The Inspector--What of the expense?
The Commissioner--Expense is secondary to human life. It is not to be
considered, if you are going to maintain British justice.
The Mayor and the City Solicitor, as on the previous day, were present
thoroughout[Sic] most of the inquiry, which promises to end to-morrow
afternoon, this revision of accounts branch of it, at least, as well as the policing
phase of the riotous quarters.
Attitude of Japanese
In a general way the Inspector gave evidence similar to that of Chief
Chamberlain, which, however, he had not heard. He agreed that the attack was
generally against the Asiatics and not specially against the Japanese, or any
other class of Orientals, and declared that in his view the attitude of the
Japanese in arming themselves, and continuing armed for days, obstructed
Powell and other streets in their quarter and suspending business, was
unjustified for they had repeatedly been assured of ample police protection.
Firing of the School
Upon the firing of the Japanese school, however, the Inspector varied
the evidence already given upon that feature of the inquiry.
“I do not think it was a genuine attempt to set the place on fire,” said the
Inspector. “The building was surrounded by police and Japanese and I do not

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NOVEMBER 6, 1907

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see how such an attempt could be made. From the reports I have received the
attempt to fire the school was attributed to the Japanese themselves.”
The Commissioner- If that is merely suspicion I cannot entertain it, and
if it cannot be substantiated, it is due to the Japanese that such an assertion
should not be made.
“I don’t think it can be proven,” the Inspector admitted.
The Commissioner- Wouldn’t they be more likely to burn the property
of others rather than their own if their were any reason for supposing they
would burn any buildings.” What reason there is for this supposition?” know
good and bad,” returned the In-[Sic]
“Among all classes there are as we spector[Sic]. “Some Japanese are not
good and the bad ones wanted to keep the pot boiling.”
“What do you mean?” demanded Mr. Duncan, with his usual gravity in crossexamination.
Biase Official Put Out
The Commissioner--And don’t you think there were some wicked white
persons who wanted to keep the pot boiling?”
“No doubt there were some,” agreed the Inspector.” But what I have said
is in effect the view we came to regarding that attempted fire.”
Although the Japanese Interpreter, Mr. Nagao, Officer McLennan and
another special constable who was on duty during the week of the riot were
examined upon the school-oil-soaked-waste-phase, the Commissioner could
get no nearer to the blaze and he thereupon concluded, with Mr. Cowan and
Mr. Duncan readily consenting to put out the blaze for all time.
You Guard Carroll- We Guard Powell

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NOVEMBER 6, 1907

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Upon the “control of the situation” after the first night of the riot there
were many questions directed at the head of the Inspector and fully answered
to the effect already given by Chief of Police Chabmerlain[Sic].
Once when Mr. Duncan got on the picketing of Powell street, which the
Inspector did not think was justified counsel observed:
“Why don’t you know that the Japanese were doing just what you and
the other city police were doing in blocking and guarding Carroll street, trying
to maintain law and order.”
The Inspector viewed this as a statement of counsel, rather than as a
question and so treated it with heavy silence.
To questions by the Commissioner the Inspector made it plain that the
number of Orientals coming into British Columbia and not the character of the
immigrants was the cause of the present ill-feeling against them, being against
one class as much as another according to the numbers arriving.
The Commissioner--That removes what would otherwise be an
offensive answer to the question.
So as the numbers decreased, the ill-feeling would disappear, was the
opinion of the Inspector.