Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-25
COMING OF JAPANESE
| NOT SEEN AS MENACE
investigator Declares Solution
Lies in Permitting Them to
Become Citizens.

farming in California is altogether too
exaggerated.
Japanese city trades while numerous.
are small-scale enterprises.
The "scums' of Japan never immi-
grated TO the United States. illiteracy
among Japanese in California being
smallest as compared with that among
other foreign-born elements
These are some of the statements made
by Yamato Ichhashi. formerly a spe-
cial agent of the United States immigra-
ton commission. in a pamphlet on Jap
anese lmmigration-Its Status in Cali
fornia. just published under the aus
pices of the Japanese Association OF
America. In this work Mr. Ichihas hi
tells Of his observations as a special
agent OF the United States government
and gives statistics regarding the immi-
grafton of Japanese. BY way of conclu-
sion he states that the fundamental and
permanent solution of the so-called Jap
anese problem is the granting of the
right of naturalization to the japanese
Beginning of immigration.
The author of the pamphlet declares
that japanese immigration was insignii-
cant until 1891. when 1000 of them i'm
| migrated FOR the first time.
The number never exceeded lOOO in
any one year but once and on the whole
foCmed but less than drop in the bucket
on the basis of general immigrant The
agreement of 1907 has been Loyalty and
rlgldly kept by the Japanese foreign
office: too rigidly it may be, for even stu
dents from Japan bound for American
universities. the best bond of peace be-
tween the two countries find it increas-
insly hard to get their passports The
Japanese population has slightly dmin-
ished since 1868. when it was estimated
at 5000 The census for 1910 says it was
a 600
Concerning the types of Japanese who
have come to this country Mr.. Ichihashi
declares that common labOrerS formed
but PA per cent of the total immigra-
ton between 1856 and 1893. Beaten men
OF beaten races could not be applied to
the Japanese he states. ITO call them
coolies is to deny facts. Females form
ed small portion of the Japanese i'm
migrants. though they formed larger
portion of immigration in more recent
years Nnety-five per cent of Japanese
were between fourteen and forty four
years of age when admitted into the
country. The per capita amount of
money brought by them is not materially
different from that brought by the most
well-to-do European NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
English. German. Irish. etc In Califor-
MIA the illiteracy among Japanese is
smallest as compared with that among
other forelgn-bOrn elements.
Not Living in Colonies.
The writer of the pamphlet declares
that while the great majority of the
Japanese immigrants are confined to the
western states. and particularly to Cali
fornia. they do not COLOMBO They are
scattered all over the state. he declares.
| though the majority of them found
in rural districts.
Concerning employment best suited for
| Japanese he states:
"Occupationally the most important for
Japanese is agriculture. Here they are
said to be now Indispensable. Several
thousands are employed by their own
/ merchants and tradesmen A slightly less
number are found in domestic service.
Some are employed by railroads. In
none of the mole important occupations
do the Japanese now compete to the Diet
rimcnt Of the general standard of living.
When similarly occupied. on the whole.
the Japanese earning just as much as
anybody else if not more.
THE current notion concerning Japa-
nese farming in California is altogether
too exaggerated. The farm land owned
by them is no more than 12,126 acres. and
the amount leased 1856. Because of the
| circumstances under which they have e.f-
gagged in farming an unusually large
number of the Japanese have failed.
Investments of Merchants.
The total amount of capital invested
by Japanese merchants is given by Mr..
Ichhashi as Si.G0,eto. and the total an
nual transactions as $I6.CODt00.
The pamphlet is concluded with Il chap
ter in which anti-Japanese agitation is
traced. The writer declares that the first
cry against the 'Japs" was made in
1887 when there were but $50 of them in
California. He then deals with the other
movements inaugurated against the Jap
anese, and concludes with a defense OF
Japanese morals. which, he says. can
compare well with those of other races.