New-York tribune., 1907-09-16
WESTERN RACE FEELING
Hhat Vas Expected in Vancouver
Before Recent Outbreak.

S'aVeS OF the United States in the matleF
OF racial antagonisms and hostility to Asatcs.
No"here, probably, the anti-Japanese dis
Iurpances in San Francisco regarded with
more sympathetic interest than here, where Mon
conan exclusion had long been leading demand
OF the labor unions and of ambitious politicians of
ooth parties Even the violent treatment just re-
corded as having been given to some hundreds Of
filnuus and Sikhs in the State of Washington Is
not resented here. but rather approved, despite the
TACT that the victims of it British subjects.
1here are those who freely predict similar demon
strations in this province at not remote date, and
Who indeed, say that the signal for them is being
given in the driving back of the Hindus from the
States into British Columbia.
The origin of this feeling against Asatcs of all
races is twofold- Most aCutaly and menacingy
perhaps il rises from the labor unionists here. who
are in close sympathy with their fellow unionists
IN San Francisco Seattle and elsewhere and are
disposed to adopt here the practices which
they have followed there In San Francisco and
Seattle the objection to the Asiatics is that they
work for lower wages than the labor unionsts
We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor" is their
cry. And the world knows how the unionists took
advantage of the San Francisco earthquake and
the consequent extraordinary demand for labor to
rebuild the city to force wages up extraordi-
nary height.
A similar condition prevails here. There has
been no earthquake. but the scarcity of labor of
all kinds. IN city and country, is extreme. The in
fuX Of japanese and Hindus would relieve the
need: but it would also prevent the labor unions
from eXacting the high wages which they demand.
Nearly year ago the labor question was so ur-
gent as to call for public action. the Vancouver
Board Of Trade at one of its meetings took II up.
The question of the great dearth of labor for in
dustrial and domestic help having been considered
and fully discussed. this resolution adopted:
Whereas All industries suffering and the
general development of the provinces being retar-
ed by dearth of labor. be it
Resolved That a memorial be presented to the
Dominion and Provincial governments praying
that immediate steps be taken TO secure the in
PRODUCTION Of a suitable supply of labor sufficient
for the country's needs"
OPPOSITION TO AsIATIC LABOR
At the same time opposition to Asiatic labor was
unabated- It indeed grew stronger as Asiatics
hocked hither more numerously to supply the de-
mand. Long ago tax Of 800 head was imposed
on Cinnamon entering the country. 1t had little
effect. however, for thousands ready pay
it, great the prospect of profits here. The
stringent measure of raising the tax TO $500
then adopted. and it practically had the desired
effect. for since it came ipto operation compare
lively few additions have been made to the Chinese
colony in British Columbia But In its dealings
with the Japanese the provincial government is in
Il very different position from that which it
Cupies toward the Chinese. Its attempts to check
their migration hither have been dsapproved and
aunulIed by the Dominion government for dipio-
matte reasons"
prised in the treaty Of alliance between Great
Britain and Japan All that the Dominion govern
ment has been able do. therefore, is TO reach
friendly agreement with Japan for the placing OF
restrictions by the Japanese government upon the
immigration Of its subjects to British Columbia.
and require that every immigrant shall have
least $25 ir his possession. Many more Japanese
have been entering the province. however than the
number agreed upon by the two governments. for
the reason that many come from Hawaii. and the
all
of control over them seeing that they do not come
directly from Japan. but from an intermediate for
efgn country
A WHITE MANS COUNTRY"
The other source opposition to As!atic labor Is
the general determination make and to keep this
a white mans country a determination which Is
also manifest in Australia and other British colo
MES. Men here recognize the extortonate tactlcs
Of the labor unions and condemn them. They la
nent the scarcity labor which is seriously inter-
fering with the growth and prosperity of the cou
try. They admit that the Chinese ana Japanese
are decidedly better workers than most white Ia
borers and that. besides asking lower wages. they
are more efficient more faithful and more cleanly
But stin this is a white mans country ana
white labor must be found somewhere and some
how to save British Columbia from becoming
Orientalzed. 1t is pointed out that few of the
Asiatics have any thought of settling here perma-
nently investing their capital here and helping 10
buiId up the country They simply aim TO get all
they can out of it. and then go back home More
over they spoil the trades for others Despite the
earnest denias that race prejudice exists mere
It does exist and dominates the whole situation
The Astatics are regarded inferior people.
and any occupation they enter is considered TO be
TINS degraded and rendered unworthy for white
person TO enter Bridget Gretchen Will no longer
work In the kitchen because Chinese and Japanese
work there Caspar will not work In the mines be-
cause Cinnamon do Hans will not so into the
heca in tho next Japanese
are employed. Pierre scorns to enter salmon
carnery for fish packing is now "Chinks work"
This same feeling has spread TO farm garden and
dairy work. to blacksmithing to shoemaking, to
engine rooms. and. indeed. TO almost all depart
rnents Of labor. Wherever the Aslatc is working
white men refuse to work.
1t Is realized. of course. that any ant-Japanesa
movement would be most distasteful to the Inn
peral government. because of the Japanese alli-
ance. and also. perhaps. to the Dominion govern
fnent at Ottawa, because OF its strong desire to
appear ultra-loyal to the empire But it is argued
that the Ottawa government. which is so remote
from the scene Of Oriental invasion, ought not TO
dictate 10 British Columbia. which suffers from
that invasion more than all the rest of the Do
ninion put together; and 1t is added that Great
Britain ought to permit this country to be pro-
tected with Asiatic exclusion laws just it does
Australia and Natal. No doubt that could and
would be done If the Dominion government would
only ask It, but that government is entirely sub
servient that at London and seems Indifferent |
TO the local desires and needs of this remote prov
ince.
THE LABOR PROBLEM SERIOUS.
The most serious feature OF the case however. is
the labor problem If the Chinese. Japanese and |
Hindus are shut out, who will do the work? 1t is |
all very well to say that white must do IT, but
It seems impossible to obtain enough white men for
the purpose. There is to-day scarcely a place |
calling in Canada in which the demand is not |