The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-06-12
PORTLAND AND
THE JAPANESE
advertiser Correspondence, Copyright
by Frederic j. Haskin.)

by Frederic j. Haskln-
4 PORTLAND, May z3.-Probably nc
other American city furnishes a more
striking example of the change in SEN
tfment toward the Japanese in this
country than Portland. 1t will be re-
membered that in 1905 the people OF
this city held the most successful OF
latter day expositions. At this mem
orable fair, which had a total attend
ance double the entire population OF
the States of Oregon, Washington and
Idaho at that time, particular defer
ence was paid to the Japanese and
Orientals in general. The exchange
of courtesies between the exposition Of
fcials and the Japanese representatives
was most cordial, and the Japanese
were absolutely the most popular of
all visitors, receiving even more at
tention than notable guests from the
eastern states and Europe.
| At that time the Japanese, both resi-
dent and transient, accepted this def
erential attention most gfaciously, but
today this is all changed. Now the
Japanese Of everyday life in Portland
affect the extreme in American cos
tune, take the middle of the side
walk, and demand in an ostentatious
way that attention which was former
ly given them so willingly. Proper al
lowance would undoubtedly be made
for these cocky manners If the faults
Of the japanese ended there. But their
unpopularity is not due to such a
trivial cause. The Indictment against
them is of a much more serious char
acter. In discussing the japanese
question on the Pacific Coast, the
senior member of one of the leading
| insurance firms in Portland, said:
None could have been more friend
! ly in their inclinations toward the
japanese than our firm was a few
years ago. We thought their coming
here was just the thing the country
needed, and we received them with
open arms. But we have had our eyes
thoroughly opened by this time. Our
experience with them has been so
costly that now we not only refuse to
write any japanese insurance risks
whatever, but when a japanese firm
or family moves into a building that
we have insured we Immediately can
Gel the policy"
The gentleman went on to say that
while the action of his firm in refusing
all Japanese business was an extraor-
binary proceeding, it's experience had
been such as to leave them no other
course to pursue. To have a. reputable
business firm, one that was avowedly
friendly in the beginning, take such
a stand against them, is indeed a
singing arrangement against the COM
mercial morality of the japanese. The
reader may we'll draw the conclusion
that the members of any race who
create such a reputation in commu-
nifty where they have been received
in the best of faith, will likely doom
the aspirations of their country TO be-
come one of the greatest powers of the
world
; Innumerable instances may be given
to show how the attitude of Ameri-
cans toward the Japanese has changed
He makes an excellent first impression,
but by getting better acquainted with
him one invariably learns that the lit
tie brown man is an empty diplomat. |
He assumes honesty, but just when
one feels sure of him he proves a dis |
appointment. In giving an account Of
a purchase he made from a Japanese |
chinaware dealer, prominent Portland |
citizen said:
HE took particular pains to show
me with his lead pencil that each plate
was solid, and called my especial at
tention to one nicked saucer that was
cast aside. I was so impressed by
his seeming honesty that 1 willingly
made the purchase. AS 1 went away
I felt that the general charge about
the dishonesty of the Japanese must
De unfounded. Imagine my disgust
when 1 got home and found my wife
n a high state of dudgeon because
'ully half of the plates were nicked.
Now that Japanese laughed in his
sleeve and considered himself clever
~ taking advantage of the chance to
heat me- He evidently did not stop to
consider that the dishonest gain he
made by this single transaction will be
more than offset by the fact that he
will lose all my custom hereafter.
borrower, my experience with him will
tut me on my guard against, all Jap
nese in future, so his paltry profit was
eally gained at the expense of his I
ountrymen everywhere"
There can be no doubt that the bad
epuldllOll Tie JAPANESE dlc
yill prove costly to their commercial }
interests in general. There is already i
large falling off in the demand for O
japanese fancy goods and novelties
Thich were so popular in this coun
ry a few years ago. While the pass /
lg of the fad for things Japanese S
lay have contributed to the decrease n
/ the demand for them, the more di-
ect causes for their decline in popu
,ritv are their fiimsy quality and the
methods of japanese dealers. v
honesty is the best policy in business, a
nd the japanese will have to learn !,
his great truth or they will never
ealize their ambition to become a
reat trading nation While it is true
lat there are Americans, both at home
No abroad. who engage in question
ole business methods, the cornerstone c
our great commercial system is fair
ealing, and the majority of our mighty
-my of traders are square. In so
n as the Japanese have patterned r
ter American practises they seem to :,
ave made the unfortunate choice of =
nitating the worst features of our :.
stem frather than emulating the :
,st y
A striking commentary on the failure :,
the japanese to grasp the secret of :
lsiness success is their lack of credit "
IRE. The Chinese wholesalers in Port 81
nd IS Chinatown are universally liked. i"