The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-30
jAPANES Sc
ARE RAISE D
Labor Commission of
California Says They
Are Needed

Sacramento. Cal, May 30-Some
form OF Unskillcd labor. such az is now
represented by the Japnnese. is essen
tial for the continuance and develop
ment OF the specialized agricultural
industries OF California.
This is the broad conclusion of the
report of the state labor commissioner
submitted to the governor. on the Jap
anese in California and which was pre-
pared after over n year OF careful field
work by a corps OF special agents
among the farmers employing Japan
ese. The investigation was author
lied by act OF legislature Just after
the anti-Japanesc agitation In Califor-
MIA in 190S-l909. and the report con-
slsts OF over 100000 words, exclusive
of a mass OF tabulated stati5tIcs.
The so-called Oriental problem In
this state is thoroughly discussed in
the report and, after searching In
qulry into all economic and social con
ditlons. finds that some form of farm
labor, capable OF Independent subsis-
tence. quick mobilization and entail
Ing no responsibility upon the employ
er for continuous employment is alb
solutcly necessary 10 CaIifornias field.
orchard and vineyard industries. II
these vast enterprises are TO be per
petuated and developed The report
is Of the opinion that the Japanese.
who now perform slightly more than
30 per cent Of this labor, arc second
only To the Chinese in meeting these
requirements.
As TO the complaints heard against
the Japanese In the districts in which
they arc employed in great numbers.
the report states that they arise
largely from the attempts of the la
borers TO secure higher wages Vt Is
pointed out, however that there are
few complaints Of this character cx-
cept in such districts as are domin-
ated by the Japanese laborers by yir-
tue of their numbers aud the almost
absolute dependence of the growers
upon them for the harvesting OF crops
In the short time the seasons allow
for this work The average duration of
employment on farms Is less than two
months in the year In this connec-
ton. the report points ont that the
japanese have learned that they can
make much more money out of con-
tract laboring than working for daily
wages. ! he IouEu dFtldHc Wdrf III
the fields. orchards and vineyards is
given at approximately $3.50 per day.
Under the contract system the labor
ers arc able 10 make from 81 TO 81
per day. From this they have passed
10 more liberal form of contract.
working together on shares; to grow
ing crops on ground held by them I'M.
der cash rental and, in comparatively
Isolaled instances. TO actual ownership
OF land.
Japanese ambition" says tho re-
port. TO progress beyond mere ser
Witty 10 the plane of better class OF
American workmen, to own home, TO
operate industries, 10 be master ald
not slave. is Of the same quality as
that of the Italian, the Swiss, the Por-
tuguese, the Russian, with whom he
competnS and is In line with the am
bition Of that type Of American who
will not compete with him. The mo-
mcnt that this ambition is exercised.
that moment the Japanese ceases 10
be an ideal laborer."
The report finds that there Is coa-
fict of opinion throughout the fruit
growing district regarding the Jap
anesp. While many growers are op-
posed TO them, another large element
declares that the oriental is essential
and the problem Will require a modl-
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