The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-08-09
JAPANESE
PETITION TO STRAUS
JAPANESE SIDE OF THE LABOR IMMIGRATION CUES
TIoN-wHY HAWAII HAS A LARGE PROPORTION OF JAPA-
NEsE-JAPANEsE THAT THEY LOWER DAGES
AND SAY EFFICIENT WORKMAN

SEATTLE, July 29.-The position of
the Japanese Association on the ques-
ton of the exclusion of Japanese la
borers from the United States is stat
ed in a memorial address which was
presented to Oscar S. Straus, secretary
of Commerce and Labor, during his
recent visit to Seattle. The address is
signed by G. T. Takahashi, acting
president, for the Japanese Associa-
ton.
Discussing the question of mutual
exclusion from Japan and the United
States of the laborers of both coun-
tries, skilled and unskilled, the address
says:
ut is not difficult to perceive that
an agreement of mutual exclusion is,
in this case really One-sided, because
there are but few American laborers
DESTROYS of going to Japan. A mutual
exclusion of laborers, skilled and I'M
skilled, under such circumstances is
not, we fear, calculated to foster a
friendly feeling between the two ma
tions. To maintain and cherish the
friendly relationship that has existed
between this country and Japan ever
since the latter entered into the
worlds comfy, it is, we think, of the
first importance that the Japanese be
treated by the Americans on the same
footing as the peoples of Europe.
"The yearly number of Japanese I'M
migrants into this country does not ex-
coed a hundredth part of the entire
immigrants N one year. In the fiscal
year ended June, 1906, there were on
ly 10, 1876 immigrants from Japan as
compared with 265 1913 from Austria
Hungary, 273, 120 from Italy and 215,-
665 from Russia. In the preceding
year the Japanese numbered only one
to ten compared with Russian immi-
grants; one to thirteen compared with
Austrians, and one to fourteen COM
pared with Italians.
Moreover, the number of Japanese
immigrants is not increasing, as has
been reported in the newspapers. Their
figures in 1901 were much smaller than
those for the preceding year; then
there was an increase up to 1903, then
falling off for two years, then a
slight increase last year"
The address sets forth that the state
mint that the Pacific coast will sooh
repeat the history of Hawaii, under
laws permitting the Japanese the same
rights as the immigrants from Europe,
is untenable. 1t says:
ut has also been asserted that if
Japanese immigration be not stopped,
the Pacific coast will soon he turned
into a second Hawaii, where "A per
cent of the adult population is Japa-
nese and Chinese. 1t is, however, very
unreasonable to forecast the future of
the Pacific coast from the experience
of Hawaii
THE reason why the Japanese and
Chinese population has become so
large in the Hawaiian islands lies in
the fact that the Japanese ana Chinese
had come to settle there before the
| Americans had acquired the territory.
Previous to the annexation of the ISL
ands by America, the native govern
ment, in order to promote and develop
the sugar industry, concluded a treaty
with Japan authorizing the latter to
| import contract labor without restric-
ton. Thus large number of Japa-
nese laborers had already been There
before the United States took posses
sion of the islands. Had there moi
been such a treaty encouraging Japa-
nese immigration, the Japanese popu-
lation of Hawaii would never have
grown SO large.
ut is, therefore, most illogical to
view the situation on the Pacific coast
where the laws forbid all contract Ia
Dor, in the same light as we view con-
ditions in Hawaii. 1t is impossible
that the conditions, where the Ameri.
cans have long established themselves
politically and economically, would be-
come the same as in Hawaii.
Even in Hawaii, the Americans are
the masters in the economic as well as
in the political field and the predomin-
ating feature of the Hawaiian civiliza-
ton is decidedly American. Further
more, European immigrants to the Pa
cific coast are far more numerous than
Japanese immigrants to the same dis.
trict, while the Americans themselves
are migrating westward in increasing
numbers. The conditions in Hawai-
and the Pacific coast are too different
to admit of comparison"
The memorial declares the charge
that Japanese immigration tends t.
lower wages without foundation.
"The reports of the Bureau of Labor
of the United States and of the facif,
coast" continues the address, "conclu
slyely shows that the wages OF labol
on the Pacific coast have been increas
ing steadily.
ut is true that IN some kinds o.