The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-12-01

W O.
be presented to Mr.. Ford in an effort to
have him dispense with the services of
the japanese. The petition was almost
universally signed, and on Wednesday
the committee waited on Mr.. Ford. The
petition cites that, in view of the num-
Der of idle men in the community, it is
not necessary nor desirable that foreign
ers should be imported to perform any
class of work in this section of the coun-
try.
"The petition contained 1877 names
"Another meeting was held Wednes-
day evening A. L. Blair addressed the
large crowd present, which consisted
largely of laboring men. He spoke for
prompt and radical action to prevent the
japanese in question being allowed to
remain in the community, and said he
had mo land for Japs to clear
"Mr. Woolever reported that the com
mittee had waited on Mr.. Ford, who
said he was sorry he had become in
volved in the matter by entering into
the contract, and would break off the
deal with the contracting company if
possible. He said, however, the commit
tee and Mr.. Ford could not agree as to
/ the riehtfuness of the latter's action
in employing japanese, the committee
! holding that the Asiatics should not be
given a foothold in the community on
any preteXt, while Mr.. Ford held that
he could not get white labor to do the
work at figure he could afford to pay,
and therefore he had right to let the
contract in question. Mr.. Woolever
stated that the committee had given
Ford until Saturday in which to annul
the contract. Mr. Woolever made a sen
sible and dispassionate talk, saying he
thought the matter should be handled in
a cool, businesslike way, and that it
was a question of standing by the action
of the committee or driving the foreign
ers out by force. He regretted that more
business men were not present, as he
thought they were the most vitality in
terested The report of the committee
was unanimously adoped
"a. L. Blair then moved that a COM
mittee of four be appointed to wait on
Mr.. Ford at 8 o'clock next morning and
request that the japanese be taken OFF
the work Immediately. By many pres
cnt this was thought impracticable, and
the motion was withdrawn.
"The committee was instructed to wait
on Mr.. Ford again on Saturday after
noon and the meeting was adjourned
until Saturday evening, when H. w.
Buck said the committee would give a
definite answer from Ford, and that
everybody should be present.
Thursday afternoon American flags
We're displayed all over town in token
of the interest and sympathy taken in
the movement to rid the community of
the unwelcome Jap.
'ATr Ford's version of the affair is
that he had tried to do the work with
white labor but could not keep a crew.
all the men quitting last July, when he
was paying $3.50 per day; that by clear
/ ing up the land he would be benefitting
the community, as he intended to plant
it to berries and thus give employment
to a large number of people during the
summer He says a great deal of the
land between Seattle and Tacoma was
cleared by japanese and Chinese, and
will not admit that he made a mistake
in letting this contract. However, he
says he will bow to the force of circum-
stances and to preserve peace will find
some way to dispense with the services
of the japanese before Saturday night
/ if possible, and in the meantime asks
the Indulgence of the people who are
interesting themselves in the matter
He states that of the fifteen in the or
iginal crew six have already left"
Later in the year of 1908 the Iegisla-
tive campaign occurred and Mr.. Ford
concluded that seat in the state legis-
lature would just about suit him and he
entered the race for the lower house
from the 49th district. He found the
going rough as Arlington citizens had
not forgotten the Jap episode. Two of
the committee appointed at the mass
meeting held in Arlington the previous
January to interview Mr.. Ford signed
the following circular letter to the voters
Of the 49th district. 1t evidently had
some effect as Mr.. Ford was deemed
too Valuable a man to be SHARED for