Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-05-30
THE ORIENTAL PROBLEM
It's Thorough Discussion in
Report of An Investiga-
tion Authorized BY Leg
islature Following Agita-
tion of Two Years Ago

Sacramento, Calf, May 29-Some
form of unskilled labor, such as is
now represented by the japanese, is
essential for the continuance and de-
velopment of the specialized agricul-
tural industries of California.
This is the broad conclusion of
the report of the state labor commits
sioner just submitted to the governor
on the japanese in California and
which was prepared after over a
year of careful field work by a
corps of special agents among the
farms employing japanese. The in
Vestigation was authorized by act OF
the legislature, just after the anti
japanese agitation in California in
1908 1909. and the report consists
of over 100000 words exclusive of a
mass of tabulated statistics.
The so-called Oriental problem in
this state is thoroughly discussed
in the report and after searching
inquiry into all economic and social
conditions finds that some form af
unskilled labor. capable of independ-
ent subsistence, quick mobilization
and entailing no responsibility upon
the employer for a continuous en-
ployment, is absolutely necessary to
Californias field orchard and vine
yard industries if these gast enter
prises are to be perpetuated and de-
veloped. The report is of the opin-
ion that the Japanese are second
only to the Chinese in meeting re-
quirements.
AS to the complaints heard against
the japanese in the districts in which
they are employed in great numbers,
the report states that they arise
largely from the attempts of l9borers
to secure higher wages. 1t is pointed
out however, that there are few COM
plants of this character except in
such districts as are dominated by
the japanese laborers by virtue of
their numbers and the almost abso-
lutte 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
connection the report points out
that the japanese have learned that
| they can make much more money
out of contract laboring than work
ing for daily wages. The rough av-
erage wage in the fields, orchards
and vineyards is given at approx
mately $3.50 per day
Under the contract system the lab
orers are able to make from $500 TO
$500 per day From this they have
passed to a liberal form of contract,
working together on shares; to grow
ing crops on ground held by them un-
der cash rental and in comparatively
isolated instances, to actual ownership
of the land.
japanese ambition" says the re-
port, ito progress beyond mere SER
| yility to the plane of the better class
of American workmen, to own a
home, to operate industries, to be
master and not slave, is of the same
| quality as that of the Italian, the
Swiss, the Portuguese, the Russian
with whom he competes. and is ii
line with the ambition of that type
of American who will not compete
with him. The moment that this
ambition is exercised. that momen
the Japanese ceases to be an idea
laborer"
OF the character of the Japanes'
laborer and his desire for an Am
erican education, the report speaks
in high terms. OF the responsibilit!
and reliability of the Japanese, con
tractors, small contractors, sub bosse
or laborers, the report states tina
they do not compare unfavorabl,
with white men in the same stations