The Washington herald., 1908-06-01

Americans that It has become almost
tresome
In Hawaii the japanese were greatly
incensed at first on account Of the re-
striction Of immigration. but the general
policy OF Cancellation they have adopted
has buried that feeling out OF sight The
japanese leaders there now declare that
the restriction Is proving TO be-a good
thing for the Japanese in Hawaii because
OF the fact that II has stopped the fit
ting 10 the mainland, and has made the
population more stable and reliable
They point out the fact that Hawaiian
japanese no longer buy much merchan-
disc from Japan. but are manufacturing
the things formerly imported. Establish
ments for the manufacture OF SOY, the
japanese sauce which is universally used,
and for making japanese vermicelli are
among the promising industries OF Homo
lulu. The raw materials used wheat and
beans, come from the mainland of the
United States. This is the creation OF an
industry which sWells American trade
and which would not have been In exist
ence were It not for the great japanese
population Of Hawaii. The opening of
the Honolulu vermiceln factory was cele-
brated by banquet attended by 800 bust
ness men, of all races and creeds. The
products OF these Japanese factories
using American materials under the
American flag are 20 be sold not only I'm
Hawaii, but all over the Western States
where there Is a japanese population to
demand them. The advantage in freight
and tariff rates will permit the Honolulu
japanese to Outstr1p their compatriots OF
Osaka and Kobe.
Japanese business men In Honolulu
deny that their wholesale merchants are
cutting into the trade or American firms.
There are about a dozen large wholesale
concerns in Honolulu conducted by Jap
anese, but II is declared in their behalf
that they handle only Japanese wares
and appeal only to their own people for
business. At the same time. 1t is argued
that the japanese IN the islands use more
American goods than japanese wares,
fully Is per cent Of their expenditures
going for American cotton goods. -four.
hats, shoes, and household furniture.
On the Pacific Coast this percentage is
still higher, according TO the japanese
leaders. This contention is borne out by
the statistics IN California, and is appar-
emily true In other States The japanese
men always abandon their native costume
MitH AAAcg EtA east VI I1aWdlls anu lnt
younger ones affect the most expensive
clothing they can afford. always leaning
TO the college variety Of extreme style.
OF course, the Japanese In America re-
ceives much higher wages than in japan,
and one OF the first things his opulence
leads him TO do is TO form the habit OF
eating bread. These arguments that the
japanese in America are consumers OF
American products are always advanced
by the japanese II reveals the curious
reasoning OF the Oriental mind. II is
taken as a matter OF course that the Eu-
ropean immigrant 10 the United States
consumes American wares, but the jap
anese holds Il as an extraordinary work
OF virtue that he does not follow the plan, |
obvious to him, OF buying all his wares
In his home land
To the objection that the japanese ar |
tisans and mechanics have driven our |
the white man, the japanese business
men reply that II would not have been
so bad had not the employing white man |
desired to take advantage Of the Jap
anese willingness TO work for lower |
wages. This is well-nigh unanswerahle
1t is certainly true that the Pacific Coast |
cities which so harshly criticise the Ian |
anese continue TO give him a job. But in |
the rural districts. especially In Califor- |
MIA. this is rapidly changing. Many fruit
growers this year are using white labor
az a greater cost In order 10 keep the |
Japanese out OF the community. The rail- |
roads, however, stick TO the proposition |
that the Japanese labor Is the best they |
can get. and nearly all OF the section |
hands west OF the Missouri River are Jap |
anese.
The ability OF the Japanese to accept |
defeat and make the most OF situation |
was illustrated in an incident which oc-
CURED in Honolulu. Japanese importer |
was caught by the collector OF customs
in the act Of working out a systematic |
differentiation OF merchandise coming in |
from Japan japanese officials. steam
ship officers. and others were HIS ac-
completes When he was accused by the |
collector he promptly admitted his guilt |
produced the true invoice for comparison |
with the false. and went his way. In !