The Washington herald., 1908-05-19

CITY on the mainland or the Unlteo
States, and they are making their pres
enee felt n the commercial life OF the
Northwestern metropolis by rapidly push
ing into every line OF business They
have 50 tailoring establishments, 60 eat
ing houses and restaurants, 30 barber
shops. 2 banks. and newspapers. They
also have numerous rooming houses and
hotels. shoe factories. bakeries. meat
markets, groceries, and general stores.
They own and operate employment
agencies. express and transportation
lines, printing Offices. and laundries.
Inasmuch as the japanese are to be
found in such great numbers in this par
tieular American community, it will be
important % know what sort Of impress
sion they have made upon the people
among whom they have come TO live.
For weeks past these letters have been
dealing with the situation from a foreign
viewpoint, telling what Americans have
to say who live among the japanese in
their own country Now the opinion Of
Americans who have had experience with
the Japanese In the United States viii
be given. One notable feature of the
race question on the Pacific Coast is the
way the people here at once begin to
compare the Chinese with the japanese.
always 10 the detriment Of the latter.
AT one time John Chinaman was a much
abused person out this way, but since
he has been excluded and the japanese
allowed 10 come into the country in
swarms. the good reputation of the
Chinaman has increased a thousandfold
1 called at a leading real estate and
renting Office in Seattle TO inquire what
kind Of tenants the Japanese make. The
head of the firm received me. and there
was no mincing of matters in his reply.
They are no good, he said emphaticaIly.
They are so unreliable and tricky that
they almost Worry the life out Of US It
takes twice as many men to handle their
business as IL ought to- We used to get
along so well with the Chinese that we
went after the business of the japanese
when they began to come in, but we
soon found 10 our sorrow that although
they are both Orientals. there is a vast
difference between doing business with
d japanese and Chinaman
What is the difference between them?"
I ventured 10 interrupt. Before he could
answer. a Chinaman came in the door
and lined up before the counter where a
young lady clerk was writing receipts
for rent, The head of the frm touched a
button and told the boy who answered
1t 10 show the Chinaman into the private
Office, where this conversation took place
between them. John. your lease is up
on your house. Do you want to stay
there another year?" Yes, I take him
one more year If you bring new roof
and make the rent no more big" said
John. How much is it you pay?" asked
the agent Il bring $50 a month plenty
quick il you bring new roof Can do?'
The anxious tenant was told that the
roof would be brought" right away, and
that settled the matter.
This particular Chinaman had been a
tenant nine years and had never been
late with his rent. The firm did not
even have written agreement with
him, plain understanding Of the terms
being all that was needed When asked
If this might not be an exceptional case,
and il some japanese might not have
been just as prompt, the agent replied:
I'VE have had years Of experience with
both OF them and We have found that
once a Chinaman enters into an agree
ment he will generally keep it, and that
as rule a japanese viii not keep any
contract that he can break. il it is 10
his advantage to get out OF IT,"
One Of the principal lines of work that
attract the japanese is domestic service,
but in this they fall far short of being
as satisfactory as the Chinese. One
great objection to them is that they are
unreliable and Will seldom hesitate 20
leave their employer tn the lurch II some
more lucrative position offers itself else
where. Impudence is another charge
made against them. many instances hav-
ing been reported where housewives have
had 20 telephone for their husbands to
come home az once because the Japanese
servant had become insolent. However.
il would doubtless be unfair to claim that
this was general fault of the japanese
in domestic service.
The universal complaint about them
seems to be their lack of interest in
their work, They invariably have a book
around somewhere and are studying and
working with their lessons at every
dLlD4f0n
TO gain knowledge and improve their
station in life is cOmmendable. but there
can be no doubt that it detracts from
their value as servants. When they ac-
cept employment as menlals they ought
to obey orders and do the work assigned
them with a proper spirit. Instead Of this,
the average japanese domestic takes his
situation merely as a makeshift. and all
the while he Is performing a servants
tasks he does so with the fun belief that
he IS the equal or superior OF every men,
Der Of the household in which he is en-
ployed. The least little friction never
fails to bring this point TO the surface.
One lady expressed the experience of
many housewives on the Pacific Coast
when she said: 'The japanese are too
proud and sensitive to work out. I got
SO / was afraid to tell one OF them 20
sprinkle the lawn for fear I would insult
some OF his ancestors, or step on the
toes Of the Mikad0."
saloon keeper who wanted a porter
was heard bewailing the fact that he had
10 depend upon the japanese for this kind
OF work. He formerly had Chinese vino
stayed with him through a long term Of
years, ana only gave up his job after he
became too old to work. The old China
man pattered around the place in his
sandals doing his work quietly and
painstakingly He had no ambition. but
he was fine porter. Since the old man
went away there has been a succession
OF japanese boys in his stead. AS vet
none OF them have remained over six
months. They invariably go to night
school, study English around the place
during the day, adept American clothes.
and soon quit their Jobs.
While the ambition of the Japanese tn
rise above the level Of menial labor is
undoubtedly 70 their credit, the fact re-
mains that this same ambition units
them for the class Of work for which
they are most needed. The argument I'd