The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-30
APANESE LABOR
IN CALIFORNIA
State Labor Commissioner Out
lines Conditions
JAPS WANT MORE WAGES
Rough Average Wage In Fields Is
About $50 Per Dny-so-csIyed
Oriental Problem Is Dis
cussed at Length

Sacramento. Cal, May 29.-Some form
of unskiled labor, such as is now rep
resented by the Japanese, is essential for
the continuance and development of the
specialized agricultural Industries of Cal
iforna.
This Is the broad conclusion of the re-
port of the state labor commissioner. inst
submitted to the governor on the Japa-
nese IN California, which was prepared
aIter over year of careful field work
by corps Of special agents among the
farms employing Japanese The investi-
cation was authorized by act of legis-
lature just after the anti-Japanese agi-
tation in California In 19OS-0s and the re-
port consists of over 100000 words, ex-
elusive OF mass of tabulated statistics
Inc so-called Oriental problem in this
state is thoroughly discussed in the re-
port and after searching inquiry into
all economic and social conditions, find,
that some form of farm labor capable of
independent subsistence, quick mobiliza-
tioh and entailing no responsibility upon
employers for continuous employment, is
absolutely necessary to Calfornias field.
orchard and vineyard industries if these
vast enterprises are to be perpetuated and
developed. The report is of the opinion
that the Japanese who now perform
slightly more than 80 per cent of this
labor are second only to the Chinese in
meeting those requirements.
Japs Want More Wages
Regarding complaints heard agains.
Japanese in districts in which they are
largely employed, the report states they
arise from attempts to secure higher
wages. 1t is pointed out, however that
there are few complaints of this charac-
ter except in such districts as are domi-
mated by the Japanese through their
numbers and the almost absolute de-
pendence of the growers upon them for
the harvesting of crops in the short time
they have. The average duration of en-
ployment 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 working for daily wages. The rough
average wage in the fields, orchards and
vineyards is given at approximately
Sl.50 per day. Under the contract sys-
tenn, laborers make from 81 to 81 per
day. From this they have passed to a
more liberal form OF contract, working
together on shares to growing crops OH
ground held by them under cash rental
and in comparatively isolated instances.
to actual ownership of the land.
Japanese ambition, says the report,
ito progress beyond mere servility to
the plane of the better class of American
workmen to own a home, to operate in
dustries, to be master and not slave, is
of the same quality as that of the
Tta1 ha a
Russian. with whom he completes and
Is in line with the ambition of that type
of American who will not compete with
him. The moment that this ambition is
exercised the Japanese ceases to be all
ideal laborer."
flict of opinion throughout the fruit
growing districts regarding the Japanese.
While many growers are opposed to
them, another element declares them es-
sental and says the problem will require
a modification of the Chinese exclusion
law. with the admission of the Japa-
nese and Chinese on equal terms in re-
stricted numbers.
Character of Laborers
OF the character of the Japanese Ia
borer and his desire for an American
education, the report speaks in high
terms or the responsibility and RELIABLE
ity of Japanese contractors, sub-bosses
and laborers, the report states they do
not compare unfavorably with white men
in the same stations. AS to the individual
.Tapanese laborer compared to the typi-
cal class of white laborers now In the
field and available for the work, the
report gives the higher standard to the
Japanese.
ing JAPANESE desired to make his home
in this country adopting American Gus
toms and closely following his Ameri-
can neighbors in many ways. Tne agents
invariably reported courteous trea'ihen'
and hospitality when visiting these men.
The report states it is not within its
nrovince to offer suggestions as to the
SOLUTION of the labor problem presented
hut merely to present the facts AFTER rigid
scrutiny of Japanese life in California.
Great stress is laid upon the INFINITE
labor spent in gath ering the data from
witch Il was drawn. Virtually every
farm in the districts where Japanese
ore employed was personally visited;
emnloyers of Japanese exclusively OF
nixed races and of white laborers only,
were interviewed and their views MED
with the bureau, and aside. from the
personal contact into which the agents
came with the Japanese of all ages
OYER 10000 census cards were filled out
NV Japanese and sent to the bureau,
that figure representing "A per cent of
the total Japanese population or the
state. The cards were prepared with
view to determining accurately the
character of each individual in order
that the Investigators might have u
Arm basis on which to found their con-
clusions as to the character and mode OF
life of the typical Japanese resident of
the state. The information was readily
given and the numerous questions an
swered carefully and In full.
= with this data before them. and with
the daily reports of the agents and
thousands of interviews with employers
and others financially interested in the
nroblem at hand. the investigators pre-
nared the following summary of farm
labor conditions in the state:
Summary Of Conditions
81. That the relationship existing be-
tween the farm labor utilized at present
in the great industries of the orchard,
VINEYARD and field and the industries
themselves has been developed along
lines of revolutionary character and is
practically impossible of modification
in any material degree.
49, That the problem of solving the
situation by drawing from the present
available white farm labor supply by
anv known methods will afford no prac-
<ical or material relief.
NJ so. That the creation of an ideal in
tellirent class of white farm labor to
he drawn from all sources within the
confines of the United States is prac-
.tjcally an impossibility for the reason
that such an effort would entail an en-
tire and radical readjustment of eco
monte conditions and the relationship