Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-09
Olive M. Blunt Now Visiting in
Iowa in Charge of Company OF
Party of Japanese
THEY MAKE GOOD DoMEsTlcs
Natives Do Not Come to This Country
With Intention Of Remainins-Ne
Danger Of War With United States,
But Country Should Be Prepared,
Says Miss Blunt.
Special to r,me.-Repuplican.


Council Bluffs, Jan. 9.-One Of the
most practical and interesting insights
into Japan ever accorded people OF
this city and vicinity, has been given
this week by Olive M. Blunt Of Japan.
a young woman who has spent four
teen years in that country and who II
now, accompanied by dozen or more
japanese, making tour OF America.
Miss Blunts strong personality was
when mingllng with the japanese res
idents of Council Bluffs. She accosted
two Japanese boys in the postoffice,
and surprised and delighted them by
addressing them in their native tongue
which she speaks iluently. She asked
them, as she does everywhere she goes,
about their life here. They were over
joyed and later accompanied Miss
Blunt on trip to the Union Pacific
yards where II party of twenty-five
Japanese are employed. They at first
demurred at her coming, saying they
were quartered in a box car and had
no place to receive her, but when she
reached the place they were all pres
ent and ready to receive her. All
traces Of CRIME from their days toll
had been removed by bathing. which Is
religiously observed by the Japanese,
and the interior of the rough car was
neat and clean. Miss Blunt talked
to them for en- hour and received many
enthusiastic expressions of apprecia-
ton.
II was asked once by a Denver re-
porter" said Miss Blunt, whether
thought 400 Japs would be good
thing in that city. 1 replied in the
affirmative. They would be useful, not
as common laborers, perhaps. but as
domestics. in which branch OF work
they are adopts. They are immacu-
lately clean. The Jap battles for the
pleasure Of being clean. The Japanese
employed in the South Omaha stock
yards and packing houses all battle
after their work every day. which is
more than most OF the Americans 40,
to say the least"
Miss Blunt says the Japanese do not
come to America with the idea of re-
naming. link OIL 4S.VVV,VUV peoPle
in territory two-thirds as large as
California she said, land you will
understand why the Japanese, many OF
them married, come to America to Ia
Dor. They are as much attached, as
Americans, to their homes and their
families and most Of them expect to
return to Japan"
II do not think there is any prob
ability that the United States and
Japan will ever engage in war. l do
think 1t i;s wise for the government to
recognize the changed conditions In
the Orient and believe it is necessary
to maintain a fleet on the Pacific
coast" she said.
"The two countries have been so
closely allied in friendship for fifty
years and the feeling of affection for
America and Americans is so strong
among the Japanese that 1t seems in
credible to me that the two nations
could become embroiled in war.
"Of course my work has not had to
do with political matters, or matters
Of emigration, labor and such ques-
tions, but strictly with religious work.
I feel, however that the development
OF ASlathc powers dIlu Jul o"i eiin'isS"
position in the Pacific render 1t the
part of wisdom to maintain naval
force in the Pacific, entirely for gen
cral reasons"
On Miss Blunts last visit to Japan
she arrived in time to witness the
review by the Japanese emperor OF
Is 900 troops, returned victorious from
the war with Russia. She describes
the spirit manifested on that occasion
by officers and troops as beautiful, and
saws there was strong sentiment Of
gratitude to Roosevelt for his part in
bringing about settlement of the con-