Why do you think Gordon Humphrey was so set on a ban on those of Chinese ancestry, even while profiting off them?
Kristina McMorris presents Gordon Humphrey as a scoundrel who believes he and “American” laborers are above the Chinese “beasts” so they can be used and taken advantage of as he thinks is most profitable.
Gordon Humphrey was the perfect definition of two-faced. He did whatever brought him profit, whether it was a business he owned or the politicians who supported him.
The answer is in the question. He could profit off the Chinese and still set the ban. It’s the best of both worlds for a racist.
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So much I want to say here about Humphrey and comparisons to the current US president, but I’ll leave that for another space 
I agree with the others that despite his hatred, the draw of money was too much for him to walk away from.
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Humphrey didn’t see Chinese people as “human,” so it probably all made sense to him that those who were already in the country could and should be used for profit. In fact, people who immigrated from Asia were not allowed to become US citizens until 1953! There are so many ways discrimination has been legislated in the US for a very long time.
Actually, it was 1943 but there was a quota that allowed only 150 Chinese immigrants to go through the citizenship process. It was until Large-scale Chinese immigration to the US didn’t occur until the[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which removed national origin quotas.
I agree with the comments of those before me; Humphrey and most Americans, did not view the Chinese as less than human. They were badly treated and egregiously discriminated against.
Two- faced greed! Humphrey must have relatives living and governing today!
Humphrey was a greedy man, who gave no thought to anyone else but himself. He did not care what your race was ( in this case it was the Chinese) but Humphrey would use and abuse any person who could, if the thought it would benefit him.
The answer is simple. Hatred. Bigotry. Prejudice. A sense of superiority. Viewing anyone different that oneself as “other” and, therefore, “less than.”
But truly horrible people are happy to profit from, literally, anything. Or anyone. And Gordon Humphrey was a typical transactional bigot, willing to use anyone and anything to enrich himself, even while haughtily judging, mocking, abusing, using, and wielding power over those he deemed beneath him.
There are a lot of people like Humphrey in the U.S. today, and many of them hold positions of great power. 'Nuff said.
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I guess the real question is why are people racist? I wish I knew. History continues to repeat itself. About the time you think society is making progress toward acceptance and inclusion you see it reverting and once again self serving interests capitalize on marginalized or less powerful people.