The News And Views

By JACK

The "Yellow Hand"

An income tax investigation which had never been reported has been carried on for months on a national scale, looking into a multi-million-dollar racket system of the Chinese tongs.

Even older than the Sicilian Black Hand are the Chinese secret societies, which existed from time immemorial as patriotic, anti-foreign and criminal organizations. In the New World, the Chinese established the tong system, apparently for benevolent and miscellaneous purposes, but actually to monopolize crime. When the Black Hand grew into the Mafia, and that into the worldwide Crime Cartel, it found the international Chinese society set-up side by side with it, a valuable ally and business associate. Wherever there is a Chinatown there are alliances with the Crime Syndicate.

Most American-Chinese criminals are members of one of the "tongs." Their social psychology, or Oriental "way of thinking," makes them contemptuous of Western manners and law enforcement.

Large transactions in narcotics are financed by Chinese gambling activities.

Many Chinese have entered this country illegally and fear of deportation is greater than fear of prison. Possession of so-called "coaching papers" is evidence that the holder got in illegally or conspired in the false entry of others.

Tongs, or "hongs" in the Toishan dialect, of which there are seven, exist only in the United States and Canada. They are secret societies which came into being in San Francisco about 1897 ... To ban killings without losing the profits, Chinese amalgamated the six family associations into the "Hip Yee Tong" (Chinese Six Companies) or "Chung Wah Wo Goon" (Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.)

Victims of the Six Companies formed the Hip Sing Tong in San Francisco. Daring, law-defying Chinese from each association joined and formed a vicious coercive secret order whose "hatchetmen," "highbinders," through threats and violence, negated the Six Companies. The Hip Sing Tong took control of gambling, prostitution of Chinese women and narcotics. Merchants were blackmailed into paying monthly tribute for "protection." Graft bought immunity from police--a Yellow Hand, so to say.

Tongs exist on profits of gambling, lottery and dope. All are chartered as non-profit corporations in their home states. Thus, they evade payments of state and federal income taxes and help Italian partners beat theirs, too. Their records and accounts are kept in Chinese. Since June, 1944, when Detroit narcotics agents raided the On Leong Tong building, reliable information revealed that the New York and Boston officers of that tong prepared fraudulent accounts. Profits are shared by the officials only. Members who would question their honesty are expelled. The New York On Leong Tong's headquarters building was completed in 1950 at a cost of $500,000.

In eastern and middle-western states all Chinese except students and a few who show fortitude are subjugated. Unless he is a tong member a Chinese laborer cannot work; a merchant cannot buy goods of Chinese origin or employ persons of his own race or be free from indignities . . . Chinese in legitimate pursuits have to join tongs to escape harassments. Chinese women are forced into prostitution.

New members are inducted by kneeling before a shrine and crossed lethal weapons and reading aloud a long oath vowing, under penalty of death, to tell nothing, not to join rival tongs, to pay dues and assessments, kill if delegated to.

Tong officials, called "gee det," are elected early. They serve without salary, but have expense accounts and thrive on the secret income. One national president, one vice president and one treasurer are elected annually. The On Leong president for 1951 was Chin Hwai King, International List No. 73, of New York; he vice president was Mock Shue Sin, of Philadelphia, since reelected; the treasurer is Ng See Teung, of Boston.

Each major city has an On Leong headquarters. Candidates spend large sums to buy votes, giving each member money or paying initiation fees of new ones. Candidates spend from $20,000 to $50,000 to "win" elections.

Following are the seven tongs, their areas and affiliates, in the order of importance:

Atlantic Coast, Middle-West and New England States:

On Leong Tong: Incorporated in several states as the On Leong Merchants Association or Chinese Merchants Association. Hip Sing Tong: Incorporated in several states as the Hip Sing Merchants Association or Hip Sing Association.

Pacific Coast, Mountain States and Texas:

Bing Kong Tong: also known as the Chinese Free Masons. Affiliate: On Leong.

Hop Sing Tong: Affiliate Hip Sing Tong.

Suey Sing Tongs: Affiliate Hip Sing Tong.

Sun Suey Ying Tong: Affiliate Hip Sing Tong.

Suey Din: Affiliate On Leong Tong.

Principal illegal activities of the tongs are-- Smuggling raw opium Hop Koe and smoking opium Pin Yin'. Price of opium varies from $15 for a "deck" to $400 for 1 five-tael tin (sixth of a can of Prince Albert). Smoking is called Dar Loo Foo or "hit the tiger." A hophead is called Yin Shee Loo. He asks Yow Mo Go, Teu Loo Do rou have that road? . . Sale of heroin is in fashion among young addicts who find opium too slow for a bang.

Also gambling--All Chinese do. This is one of their big pay-offs. Most popular are tan-tan, too far lottery and book up biu taiso lots awpe kow and mah jongg. lotteries are operated by a bank. Doo far bets range from 25 cents to $5, at odds of 30 to 1.

At prostitution. The names of : White Sparrow" and "Young Willow' are commonly used and are written on red slips of paper posted near entrance, of their buildings and on doors.

Alien smuggling is lucrative. The price rose from $1,000 to $6,000 a head.