Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-31
TROOPS IN HAWAII
Two . Regiments of Japanese
Soldiers Said to be in
the Islands.
WAR VETERANS AMONG THEM
Forty Per Cent of Population Nippon
csc Who Refuse to Become Amer
lean Citizens.

the mainland relative to the existing
Japanese war scare and the recon-
mendation of the president that the
Japanese be admitted to citizenship,
the people of the Hawaiian Islands re-
gard the present situation as exceed
ingly grave and, furthermore, view with
the keeneSt alarm the future OF Ha-
wall in event of the presidents recon-
mendation being enacted by congress,
writes a Honolulu correspondent of the
New York Herald.
Notwithsta nding denials from Wash
ington. the rumor still prevails at Hon
olulu that two regiments of Japanese
veterans, fully Differed from colonel
down, are in and about Honolulu wait
ing the signal to take possession of
that city. No outward evidence of such
military organization is given, but the
secret agents of the United States gov
ernment have obtained details that
caused them to cable the information
to Washington.
The members of these regiments are
working in various capacities in and
about the city. a very significant fact
has been observed about the character
of the Japanese who have been coming
TO Honolulu lately from Japan. 1t has
been noticed that the recent arrivals
have been harder and better set up
class of men than those who formerly
came. Many of them have been wear
ing their war medals, and this display
of war records has been especially
noted by observers. The local newspa-
pers are treating the situation as one
that is much more grave than the av
erage person realizes. In this connec-
ton it is urged that the territorial au-
thorities do nothing for the present
that will arouse the resentment of the
Japanese.
1t is believed that not a little of the
feeling in Japan against America was
due to the manner of treating various
Japanese in Hawaii under the terrific
rial laws and regulations. Japanese doc
tors have been refused licenses to prac-
tice unless they could take the eXami-
nations in the English language. Jap
anese hack drivers were regulated
against by the legislature, and other
efforts were made by the lawmakers
to prevent the japanese competing with
citizens in various occupations and
businesses. Practically all of these eff
forts were made in violation of treaty
rights.
The residence of the Japanese il the
Hawaiian Islands has developed one
fact most positively, fact that is
being urged as the most material con-
sideration against his being natural
lied. This is the nonassimilative char
acter of the race. The Hawaiians are
among the most open hearted, hospita-
BILE people in the world. They are
ready to receive almost any race. with
the exception of the negro, upon friend
ly terms. The Chinese have in numer-
Gus instances shown that they could
and would profit by this feeling and
have taken natives, among the lower
classes as a rule, for wives. But not so
the japanese.
with Mental Reservation.
If ever the japanese avail themselves
of the privilege of becoming American
citiZens-in the event. of course, of
President Roosevelt's recommendation
being followed by congress-the Japa-
nese will become Americans with 81
mental reservation. And this reserva-
ton will be that they will not fight
against Japan. A number of Japanese
have been asked if they would like to
become American citizens. In prac-
tically every instance they replied that
they would 1t was then explained to
them that among the obligations that |
they would undertake in such event |
would be to pledge to fight against |
their emperor If America and Japan |
ever went to war. To a man every |
Japanese Immediately replied that he |
could not fight against his emperor
With the Japanese as citizens the day |
of Hawaii as American territory will |
pass. Previous to annexa-
ton to the United States the Ha- |
waiian Islands We're in increasing dan
ger Of becoming absorbed eventually |
by japan. With the ''little brown |
men" enrolled as American subjects
that condition will become a reality
No official census of the Japanese in |
these islands has been taken recently, |
but 1T is believed from various reliable
sources that they number about 10000,
Or about 40 per cent of the entire popu-
lation. There are at least 10000 able
bodied Japanese men living on the is
and of Oahu and in Honolulu constant
y. so that the recent estimate made /
oy the military intelligence officers of /