The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-11-06
YELLOW PERIL ON COAST

WOu2a nIOhA IIQfn S8fsA~SG
ton are said TO be active assistants In
promoting the success OF the assisted
emigraut system.
The emigration companies have an
immense body OF material TO draw
upon. The population OF Japan is -sS
to the square mile, taking the country
by the large Yet only q small portion
OF the empire Is cultivable. and prac-
ticaIly the entire population Is huddied
IN this compass. The poverty OF the
masses Is appalling to an American
The wages paid to abte-bodfed labor
ers are pitifully small. There Is every
lnducemeut TO the Japanese coolie TO
emIgrate. and If the contract-labor
laws of the United States were not In
force the influx Of assisted immigrants
would be enormous.
Many OF the leading citizens Of this
coast believe that the time has nearly
arrived when the Japanese must be ex-
cluded, and for the same reason They
believe the Japanese are evading the
contract-iabor laws in many cases.
And even IL the contract laws are
strictly enforced. they believe the Jap
anese will continue to come. under the
system OF assistance. The Jap, like
the Chinaman, will work for wages
upon which q white man would starve.
II is true that the Japs already here
have demanded good wages. nearly as
high as those paid to the whites for
similar work. but under the compeu-
ton or their own countrymen they
would reduce their demands.
In a report to the commissioner gen.
eral OF immigration, a special commits
sioner dispatched to Japan TO fnvesti-
gate the immigration. explained why
the Japanese prefer TO come to the
United States rather than to go To the
new countries nearer home.
'"Thq JananeSa lives I'm the nreSpnt.
he is not, and never will be. an inde-
pendent pioneer. he wants immediate
profits, or wages: hence he desires to
emigrate TO civilized countries where
he can earn good wages, and. as he ex-
presses it learn English and how to
farm and do other things as the more
favored nations do, and. after he has
achieved these results and made mon
ey, place. himself in a position 10 re-
turn to his native land in from three
to five years: hence 1t Is an easy mat
ter for the agents OF the emigration
companies to persuade large numbers
TO come to the west.
They are beguiled with rosy stories
OF high wages and In, mediate employ
ment. The Pacific coast Is a favored
locality with them, rot only on ac-
count OF the wages paid, but because
of the climate, which is very similar
to that in the neighborhood OF Nagas-
aki Kobe, and yokohama: conse-
quently there is strong immigration
movement. At present immigrants,
aside from those who come to the
United States and Canada, are going
TO Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Hawaii, Korea
and indeed to every country where
contract laborers may be placed; but
it requires much persuasion to induce
them to go to Mexico, Peru. and Bra
zil.'
The commissioner throws this fur
theT light upon the situation:
y was informed by Mr.. that
Mr.. ---. a leading member Of Par
lament from the province of Kyushu,
told him that his province (Kyushu)
was annually producing a thousand
ployment for at home. At the time
this conversation occurred this Japa-
nese member of Parliament was on his
way to one of the southern islands
to see If arrangements could not be
made to take laborers there. This
member OF Parliament, in his CONVEX
sarion with Mr.. spoke OF the
as one which gave them
great concern.
The question naturally occurs, how
do they raise sufficient money to emf
CRATE? AS l intimated in my report
OF the cath ultimo. the emigration
companies in certain instances furnish
them money. sending a Banto along
with the emigrants to look after their
interest. I found, by inquiring amona
the people. that 1t requires from five
10 ten years for a japanese farmer to
save 200 yen. Some undoubtedly do
this, but the majority secure money
by selling their holdings and by bor-.
owing from the emigration companies
friends and relatives. upon whom
they are more or less dependent, going
their security. The laws are very strict
N Japan concerning the collection Of
iebts. There are no exemptions and
hence, in view of the fact that every
migrant to the United States is able
10 send money home. this is n safe
business. Besides the pickings of the
emigration companies enable them to
get back large part OF the funds
oaned the emigrant before he sails.
,annot, or course, prove this state of
acts, but all the circumstances con-
'ur In supporting this view"
me agitation for the exclusion of
ne japanese is led by the Japanese
nd Korean Exclusion League. which
8 composed largely of union labor
representatives.. Memorials have been
ent to congress. and the California
leIesation In congress has made some
tir toward discussion Of the Japanese
n nmigration question. The best-fn-
ormed people here perceive that the
asst Is not ready at this time to con-
ider japanese exclusion, but they are
onvinced that the time Is rapidly an
reaching when something must be
one 10 protect this coast from the
emoraHzing influences OF the lana
csc III exclusion is impossible, they
ill demand restriction, at least Ir
nis is not forthcoming. they believe
ne answer VIII be an uprising against
he Japanese.