Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-29
OBSERVATIONS INDICATE
CALIFoRNlANS WILL NOT
ADMIT MORE oRlENTALs

In Southern California, where the cit
rus fruits are the principal crop, the
experience with the Japanese has been
the same so far as his qualifications as
a laborer are concerned. The extremely
high price of land and other local con-
ditions have operated to discourage the
Japanese from attempting to secure ex-
tensive holdings In the south. Not
nearly so many laborers are needed as
in the small fruit sections, and the la
Dor question is not so acute. The citrus
growers, however, for the most part
agree that the Japanese Is unsatisfac-
tory because he Is unreliable, has no
regard for the obligation of a contract
and is quick to take advantage OF his
employer. The Southern Californians.
as the people in other parts Of the
state, are loud In their praises of the
Swiss, Portuguese and Spanish labor
ers. They also consider the Italian
more desirable than Japanese. although
the vendetta and its deeds of violence
cause a strong dislike OF the southern
Italians.
A curious feature OF the labor ques-
ton and its accompanying racial issue
in California is the changed attitude
toward the Chinese. The employers In
California always did like the Chinese,
but the influx was so great that all
California. practically. Joined in the
demand for exclusion. Now that the
Chinese immigration has been stopped
for twenty years and the Chinese here
are becoming fewer, California seems
almost to regret 1t. Certain 1t Is that
whenever a Japanese is seen or heard
the Californian instantly makes a COM
parison which is infinitely to the adj
vantage of the Chinese. The sober
thought of the state, however, fears the
incoming of any Oriental people, and 1t
looks to Europe to supply its demands
for labor and to the rest of the United
tatSes for settlers and farmers. The
Asiatic is not wanted.
In rural California the opposition to
Japanese is based more on racial than
economic reasons. The japanese la
borer is the best the California farmer
can find, in that he Is reasonably eff
ficient and reasonably cheap. But for
all of that, even under conditions that
permit the white man to absolutely
control the Japanese, there is q fear
and distrust which Is born Of innate
racial antagonism. The presence of
the Japanese In any considerable num-
Der demoralizes the natural conditions
of life in the community. Not even a
large negro settlement shows as great
racial differences, for the negro eats
the same kind of food and has the
same religion and habits as the people
among whom he lives.
A California village ten years ago
welcomed Japanese labor. 1t was a
typical village inhabited by Americans.
with its school, its churches and it's
stores. There was the usual dissen-
sions between the Methodists and the
Baptists and the usual debates be-
tween the Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis The Japanese laborers contin-
ued to come in. One of them became
a merchant. Others leased land. Later
they bought land round about the viii
lage. The invasion was silent and
gradual. But now what a change has
come over that village! Methodist and
Baptist stand together, their dogmatic
differences forgotten. in wandering
contemplation of Buddhist mission.
Republican and Democrat bury the po-
litical Ratchet and declare that this
shall be a white mans country" This
Japanese village in California Is liv-
ing prophecy of the actual danger to
American civilization on the Pacific
coast If it is not protected by Asiatic
exclusion laws. California complains
that the east does not understand. 1t
is always the same with race questions
they cannot be understood at long
range.
Copyright. 1908. by Frederic J. Haskin.)
TOmOrrow-"rhe City of the Angels"