Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-01
BRAND AS FOOLISH
STORIES OF JAPANESE
LA6oRERs AS SPIES

The ability of the Japanese to accept
defeat and make the most of a situa-
ton was illustrated in an incident
which occurred in Honolulu. A Japan
ese importer was caught by the collec-
tor of customs In the act of working
out systematic undervaluation of
merchandise coming In from Japan.
Japanese officials steamship officials
and others were his accomplices
When he was accused by the collector
he promptly admitted his guilt, pro-
duced the true invoice for comparison
with the false and went his way. In q
few. days committee OF Japanese
business men came into the collectors
office to announce that they had
formed an association to assist the
collector in the work OF stamping out
smuggling and other frauds on the
customs, especially among the Japan
ese. The chairman of the committee
was the man who had been caught I'm
the fraud only few days before. He
could see nothing inconsistent in his
attitude. The Japanese in America
who was insisting upon his rights with
a loud voice few months ago is now
talking about Commodore Perry and
traditional affection. He knows how to
accept defeat. lsc
In Hawaii, and even in California
there is much talk of the possible polit-
ical influence of the Japanese I'm the
future, as the sons of Japanese immi-
grants born on American soil are citi-
zens and Will be voters. The Japanese
say that fear of political influence is
foolish, even In Hawaii, because of the
fact that the Japanese almost invari-
ably returns to his native land after a
few years, taking his family with him.
The intense patriotism of the Jap
anese is such that he will not even
pretend to any notioi of changing his
allegiance. On this account there has
been much objection urged against
him on the ground that In time Of war
States. The great Japanese popula-
ton in Hawaii, composed largely OF
western soldiers. might be exceedingly
dangerous in case of war. The tracks
and bridges of all the continental rail-
road lines In America would be at the
mercy Of the Japanese section hands in
event of war.
man becomes impatient when these
fears are mentioned to him. In Hawaii
1t is pointed out the legislature COM
PEELED all persons to register firearms
1t being the belief that the Japanese
were thoroughly armed. The result
showed that fewer Japanese possessed
firearms than any other race of peo-
said: "As for spies-well, that is
merely case of some ignorant Jap
anese taking photographs for pleas
ure's sake. He doesn't know it is
against the rules of nations to take
pictures of fortifications. and when he
is arrested he doesn't know enough
English to make himself understood or
to understand his captors. As for the
railroad laborers, they could not hope
to destroy railroad property even in
time of war without facing certain
capture and death. 1t is entirely alb
surd to accuse these ignorant coolies
of such high designs upon the peace of
the country which has given them a
chance to make good living.
In the end, now that the policy of
conciliatfon is adopted, the intelligent
Japanese of the western cities will al
ways carefully explain that he fully
realizes that the objection to Japanese
immigration is based upon economic
reasons, that there Is no feeling of
racial antagonism. And then he viii
declare that the heart Of the Japanese
people pulsates with true love for the
Americans, that no matter how greatly
Americans may misjudge them, the
Japanese will forgive and love on
that ever since Commodore Perry
dropped anchor. etc.
Copyright. 1905, by Frederic ]. Haskin)
Tov,,nrrov-A vyopId VVIde Race o,,.atian IS