Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-07-05
JAPS AWAIT
 THEIR CHANCE za Thousands of the Little Eel lows Are in Mexico Ready to Be Struggled Into United States
MANY HERE ALREADY
Different With the Chinese-Will Pa. trol the Mexican Border With Mounted Inspectors-Influx of Japs COntinues-A Serious Problem.
Special to the Graphic.

Washington, D. G., July 5.-A ser- ious problem has been presented to the Department of Commerce and Labor in the prevention of the smuggling of Japanese across the Mexican border. Under the law, as enacted at the last session of Con- gress, Japanese laborers and coolies are not permitted to enter the United States and all such Japanesee apply ing for admission must he deported.
 The conditions under the law, are substantially the same as those re- 1ating to the admission of Chinese laborers and coolies, but, as a mat ter of fact, the law is almost dead letter, because the means of it's en- torcement are lacking. Of course, Japanese laborers cannot land at any of the principal ports of entry. If they should endeavor to do so they would be turned back. The trouble arises when they come from British Columbia or Mexico. On both the northern and southern borders of the United States, the arrange for the detection of smuggling are not adequate to meet the require ments of the law. The result is that many Japanese manage to get across one or the other of the bor- ders into this country, and, once in the country, they are very difficult to find.
 Just now, there are thousands of Japanese in Mexico only awaiting an opportunity to slip into this country. In ones, twos and threes, up to squads of dozen or more they are being smuggled across the Mexican border They disappear in the coun- try and as the immigration officials have no record of them, they have little difficulty in losing themsel- yes, especially if they get into large cty.
 With Chinese it is different. Those who leave China are subject ed to the process of photography when they get their passports. On arrival here they are not allowed to land unless their papers are in ac- cordance with the regulations. They cannot come into the country from British Columbia or fro Mexico un- less they identify theselves as en- titled to admission, as no railroad company will carry them.
 No such restrictions are placed on the Japanese. They can take a train and go as far as they pay their fare ard get of where they please. The result is endless confusion for the migration officials. Thousands of Japanese are being sent to Mex ico by the Japanese promotion com- panies. They are unable to get em- ployment in Mexico and, as result turn immediately to the United States. Thus far it has been inn possible for the immigration officials to prevnt them being smuggled across the border and they are en- tering the country in hordes, despite the regulations and the law to the contrary.
 Secretary Straus, on the trip he has just begun proposes to inquire carefully into the whole matter, and if possible, devise some plan for the enforcement of the law against the incoming of Japanese laborers. He has decided upon a scheme of pa trolling the Mexican gorder with mounted inspectors with view to preventing the smuggling which mo- toriously has been going on for onthts. It is a difficult matter however, to guard bor- der nearly two thousand miles in extent, even with mounted guards.
 Investigation has shown that the Japanese government is not respon- sible for the coming of the large number of Japanese laborers, as no passports are issued to that class of of Japanese to America. Still, the influx of Japanese continues and how to prevent it becomes daily more serious.