Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-04-15
JAPANESE IN AMERICA
Efforts For the Passage of an
Exclusion Law.
PRESENT INFLUX VERY SMALL
The Immigrants Are of = Versatile
and Ambitious Class Question
which Japnnese Present Widely
nese-Nipponites Not Liked as Well
as CeIestiaIs by Cnlifornians.

Different From That Raised by Chi
nese-Nipponites Not Liked as Well
as Celestials by CnIifornians.
Japanese immigration threatens to
become subject of early COMPRESSION
al attention, says the Washington cor
respondent of the New York Post. The
California legislature, strongly Repub-
lican in both houses, has memorialiZed
congress in favor of an exclusion law
like that applied to the Chinese. The
legislature OF Nevada is moving in the
same direction. Oregon did SO several
years ago and would renew Its petition
any time that this action promised any
results. Some of the leading newspa-
pers of the coast are taking the subject
up vigorously. 1t is doubtful IL eastern
opposition TO japanese exclusion is any
stronger today than was eastern oppo-
sition to Chinese exclusion when that
policy was first advocated. The public
soon becomes accustomed to almost
any system of law which is steadily
maintained.
But the question which the japanese
immigrants present is widely different
from that raised BY the Chinese. The
great objection to the latter was their
tendency to displace manual laborers
of the white race. The japanese Is OBJ
jected to because he is so constantly
aspiring. Californians say that he does
not want to work in the ditch or on the
ranches any longer than the old time
Americans of English stock. He is
He becomes carpenter, or plumber,
or restaurant keeper, or a merchant
There is nothing apparently which the
Jap cannot in time learn to DO and his
progress is SO rapid that he does not
long content himself to displace the
lower class of laborers. He stipulates
In accepting a position that he shall be
afforded time for study or to attend
evening schools. This is the great trou-
BILE which the Calfornians have with
the Japanese as house servants. They
want to hurry away from the dinner
table TO attend school.
About 5000 Japanese a year are now
coming into the United States. 1t
would take many years to pile up
large japanese population. 1t is as
sumed, however, that with the close of
the war immigration will proceed much
more rapidly. Taxes will be so heavy
at home unless relieved by tremen
dous indemnity-and even then Japan's
military and naval ambitions must be
remembered-that the economic oppor-
tunity In the little archipelago will be
limited. For many reasons the Japa
nese would like to come TO the United
States aside from the opportunities
here for earning good wages. They
could quickly get into touch with the
western civilization, of which they are
so fond. They are clever artisans. A
large field opens for people who put
brains and aspiration into their every
day work A considerable colony OF
japanese has already been established
in Texas, where they have proved most
useful
treat the people of u strong Asiatic
power as roughly as il has treated the
Chinese remains to be seen. China has
always been FESTIVE under our treat |
ment of her subjects. 1t is not so much
the exclusion from our shores to which
she objects as TO the badge OF degrade
lion which our laws affix to person OF
Chinese blood. But as nation she is
so weak and tiabby that she must tOler
ate anything from d western power.
This may not be the case with the Jap
anese, no matter how much they might
welcome friendship with the United
States.
The treatment which the individual
Jap receives in the west il often rather
bad. In one of the towns Of the Puget
sound when James J. Hill brought in a
colony OF Japanese to work on his rail
road and provided them with little
houses along its line the custom used
to be for American working men Ms
they walked by TO throw stone in
through a window, often sending the
Japanese who happened 10 be in range
to the hospital. The lack of regard for
the law for its own sake, which seems
characteristic Of the far west. may
greatly complicate our diplomatic rela-
tions with the japanese. Experiences
with the Chinese in Idaho and with the
Italians in New Orleans have already
shown what might occur.
While 5000 japanese in year Is
small. in view of the million persons
who will in this calendar year come in
TO the United States as immigrants
from the rest of the world. il is evil
IDENTIFY capable of some expansion. The
San Francisco Chronicle. which is lead
ing IN the agitation. asserts that Japan
could spare 100000 year after the
war closed without depicting her home
This is obviously an eX-
aggeration in view OF the outlet which
Korea and Manchuria will afford. but il
is representative of the arguments
which may arouse the Pacific coast. The
American population OF those states as
yet is small, and an ingress of 10000
Japanese a year would soon make
felt The Californians do
not like the japanese personally so