The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-15

At all events. partisan or not, the report
sheds a good deal of light upon the I'M
doubtedIy real and deep suspicion Of
Japanese labor that exists on the Coast.
Just now the Japanese exclusionists are
pointing a m%onitory finger at Hawaii.
They vie with alarm" the growth OF
Japanese population and power in those
islands and they quote a Government re-
port TO justify their fears.
Statistics show that in 1900 out Of l54,0O1
inhabitants in the Hawaiian Islands, only
Is ,3ls were Caucasians. SO, 72s were Asiatics.
OF whom Of III were Japanese. From 1900
to 1905 5000 Japanese came 90 Hawaii
despite the declared opposition of the
japanese Government. Thousands of
Japanese in Hawaii Engage in occupations
other than agricultural and according TO
a report of the United States Commissioner
Of Labor published in September the
0rientals, and especially the japanese, are
nov in almost complete control OF the
clothing trade, boot and shoe trade, food
products and the production Of coffee
and rice. They are also making rapid
strides in all building work. In twenty-six
occupations for which licenses are required
there were $50 Chinese and Japanese
license holders to 1929 OF all other nation
slities. The report declares hat the Asiatics
are rapidly coming into control Of the
smaller retail trade. The bulk Of the
Hawaiian population, it's native stock a
moribund one, is now n~on-Caucasian and
nearly half Of it is japanese.
It is plain that it would be hard to dis
prove the declaration Of the principal
anti-Japanese paper Of San Franc isco
that for all practical purposes Haw ali
is to-day a Japanese colony"
What we are fighting for on this coast"
says this m~outhpiece Of anti-Japanese
sentiment, lis that California and Oregon
and Washington shall not become what
the Territory Of Hawaii now is. If the
Japanese are allowed to come here freely
nothing can prevent that except revolu-
tion and massacre, which would be certain.
The white men Of this Pacific Coast are
determined that the OTientals hall never
be enabled to do here that which they have
already accomplished in Hawaii. 1t will
be prevented by whatever measures are
found necessary
An extreme view certainly and one which
is probably considerably in advance Of
Californian sentiment. Ind yet IL is certain
that the mass Of Californians are fast COM
ing to a frame Of mind that will result
in a demand that the Japanese be barred.
II Congress turns a deaf ear to that de-
mand the Pacific Slope will deal with the
affair in some way Of its own devising.
IL may be by one great universal stern
boycott Of all things Japanese. 1t may
be in some other way.
At all events there seems to be no prob
ability that the japanese question will
be allowed to cool off much in these parts.
The Japanese have recently shown that
they rave at least a well developed sense
of national pride. The Californian believes
they are thin skinned. Well, az long as
sentiment here remains of it's present char
acter their epidermis is going to be punct-
ured early and often.
People here are pointing out that the
present preponderance Of Japanese pOpuls-
ton in Hawaii would prove more than
annoying in case this country were ever
to be at war with Japan. IL would, they
hold, necessitate the presence there Of a
large American army to keep the Jap nom
combatants in order, even if the Japanese
feet did not seize the islands before our
own ships could get there in force.
There In not the slightest fear here that
HCSICIdlH NACbNoh > AUBOib W NAD . 'nANOAA
on the school question will be OF a character
to induce the President to take any steps
for the d%isciplining OF San Francisco.
Indeed, il is impossible to see how IL
could do so, since the treaty with Japan.
under which that country is making her
complaint, contains mo most favored
nation" clause. II it did, well informed
lawyers here hold that Japan would be
within her rights in objecting to the segrega-
ton Of Japanese in separate schools. But
it doesn't.
Not that that point bothers California
much. Whatever the report of Secretary
Metcalf and whatever the Presidents ac-
ton, they would stand by their guns. The
international aspects OF the case do not
appeal 10 them in the least. They simply
will not send their children to school with
Japanese and any number Of them aver
stoutIy hat no human power can make
them do 1t.
we axe the liberty" one of them said
To The Sun correspondent, "of oojecting
TO the racial character and peculiarities Of
he Japanese in bulk. 1t may displease
other Americans who see little Of the Japs
and know lens Of them. 1t may annoy
President Roosevelt. II may be humiliating
to the great and powerful and chesty Jap
ancsc Government. We cannot help that.
our children shall not associate. day an
md day ont, In the close intimacy of the
schoolroom, with the Japanese. NOFederal
pressure, no international complications
san make us submit TO It."
California Is stubborn. California seems
d termincd on an anti-Japanese camp. ign.
What asks California, lis the rest Of the
country going To do about it2'