The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-04-22

hlghly lndlgnanC unat tne anJl-JapaneSt
agitation on the Pacific coast does moi
cease and bitterly denounce the labor ag
itators and the "yellow press" because
they continue to cry for rigid Asiati,
exclusion.
1t is a pity that some of these peace
peace at any price" gentlemen could moi
be forced to live in California for few
years and be compelled to compete will
Mr.. Jap for livelihood. We are safe
in saying that they would very soor
become "labor agitators."
1t is not mere bravado that prompted
the people of California to almost defy
the authority of the Federal government
1t was the desperation of n people wag
ing a losing fight for their food anC
drink against the yellow skinned people
of Asia. There are no more loyal Am
ericans-none who would Sacrifices more
for the honor of their flag-than these
Californians. A people who will rise
against the powers of graft and evil as
they are doing in San Francisco now
stand as the highest type of American
citizenship
The writer was in Los Angeles little
over two years ago at the time when the
anti-Japanese agitation was at it'
heighth. When the San Francisco del
egation was summoned to Washington
by President Roosevelt to settle the
school question which had apparently al
most precipitated war between the two
nations. In hotel lobbies, in barber
shops, on the streets, everywhere, Jap
anese aggression was the sole topic OF
conversation. So ineensed were the citi
zens of that state that they would have
been ready to declare war upon japan
alone and unaided. This feeling existed
among all classes of people, among sober
minded men who knew what was meant
by war. 1t was something more thar
simple race prejudice that was response
BILE for this state of affairs.
California is not the only state that
suffers from the unfair competition OF
the japanese. 1t exists in a small de
gree perhaps in every Pacific coast state
On the G. n. railway system in our owl
state for instance, where white section
crews have been given q reduction il
wages and japanese crews given an in
crease. In Spokane a year ago during
panicky times when white labor walked
the streets in idleness while every Jap
enese in the city was working.
We were solemnly assured by the Fed
eral government few months ago that
through negotiations between the two
governments immigration of japanese la
Dor to our shores would be stopped
Had this promise been kept the people
of the coast states would have beer
satisfied and the menace to white labor
removed. But everybody knows that
immigration has scarcely been restricted
and the Federal government knows il
as well.
Congressman Hayes of California ear
hardly be called "labor agitator." o.
the contrary, he is a large employer o.
labor. But he is man of good impulses
and loyal to the interests of his stat'
and he knows the menace to American
workingmen of Asiatic labor and he alst
knows that the degradation of American
labor means serious injury to Ameri
can institutions. He delivered in th'
House of Representatives on the l5tl
day of last February, speech on "Ex
clusion of Chinese and other Asiatics.'
Read what he says in regard to ex
Guiding Japanese:
$50 far as excluding japanese is con
cerned, there seems to be no attempt tC
execute the law. The immigration aet
of 1907 provides in substance that wher
in the opinion of the president of thu
United States alien laborers from oul
island possessions or from contiguous
foreign territory are entoring the Unit
ed States to the disturbance of labor con
ditions therein, he may by proclamation
forbid the entry into this country OF
such laborers. In accordance with thi:
law the president of the United States
Immediately after its passage issued his
proclamation forbidding the entry oi
such laborers from Hawaii, Mexico ol
Canada. The effect of all this was, az
it was intended to be, to make the en-
try of Japanese laborers from Hawaii
Mexico and Canada illegal, and being
here contrary to the law such Japanese
are subject at any time TO arrest and
deportation. The issuance of the pro
elamation seems to be about all that has
been done. 1t may be that when Japan
ese present themselves to the immigra
tion officials, these officials turn then
back and forbid them to enter the Unit
ed States, but there is apparently no at.
tempt to exclude them other than this
'On the Mexican border, the Rio
Grande can most of the year easily be ford
ed and can be crossed on row boats Al
any time. Hundreds of Japanese hav,
been crossing to the United States hear
ly every day and there seems to b