The Caucasian., 1913-08-12
THE JApS INVASION.

THE JApS INVASION.
Report Is They Are Hunting Sugar
Lands in LOuisiana-One Tract
Purchased-Real Estate Operator
Sounds Warming to the People Of
the State. ."..#.@
The st. Louis Globe-Democrat in
New Orleans telegram Of August
9 says: Will the tide OF japanese
immigration be turned from Cali
fornia, where there are laws aglnst
Japanese ownership of lands, to
louisiana? And will the people who
now own lands here be called upon
10 sacrifice their holdings to escape
contact with these people as unde-
sirable neighbors?
The fear that these things may
come true is being expressed by
some real estate men. The fact that
the effort is being made by the jan
anese promoters to come here ap-
pears to be assured. 8
A report is current that already
one large tract of land in the Louis
lana sugar district has been pur-
chased by Japanese, and that it will
be coonized by them. Just who the
owner selling the land is, or where
it lies, is not public. But it is stated
by John G. Taylor, an extensive op-
orator in Louisiana lands, to be sub
stantially true.
Il am reliably informed said Mr..
Taylor, that certain real estate
men of this State are negotiating
with prominent Japanese to colo
nize sugar lands with Japs. And [
am told also that one sale has been
consummated for this purpose.
1T is not surprising to hear OF
this he further stated. For Louis
lana is the natural field to which
those people might turn, following
the laws excluding them from own
ership of lands in California. The
lnads here are we'll adapted to their
purposes, and, while cheaper, are
more fertile. It is not at all unreas-
enable, therefore. that japanese are
seeking to get foothold in Louis
lana. Under the circumstances,
they would naturally be attracted to
this State.
ut seems to me that it would be
appropriate for the real estate men
and those engaged in handling lands
in Louisiana to take some steps to
meet and forestall any conditions
that would result from an influx OF
Japanese into this State.''
In speaking of the matter, Mr..
Taylor referred to an article ap-
pearing in a recent issue OF Golfers
Weekly, which details how the jan
anese gradually got a foothold III
California, resulting in the depres-
sion Of land values. The article re-
ferred to, as Mr.. Taylor pointed out,
shows that wherever the Japanese
once began to acquire lands in any
locality in that State, land values III
the vicinity became depressed be-
cause Americans had no neighborly
feelings for the Japs. when the
Japanese farmers move In American
farmers move out. This has been
the inevitable result reads the
article.
That this would result in Louis
lana, Mr.. Taylor believes, would be
more distinctly shown. For South
ern people are, by nature and en-
1ironment, reared with the feeling
Of aversion for races Of different
color; and any encroachment by
outsiders who are regarded unde-
sirable for this reason is quickly
resented by them. Should Japanese
get a foothold in any portion of this
State, therefore, he expressed the
belief that white farmers residing
in the vicinity, when it was seen
the Japanese were firmly established
would quickly move out, and others
could not be induced to take their
places. Thus would the effect be felt
upon the values in surrounding
lands.
l@ Lessonaearned by Japs.
But, even should resistance be ex-
hibited to these people, if they
prove as persistent in acquiring
lands here as the Collier article
shows they demonstrated in Cali.
fornia, Mr.. Taylor said they will
harass the people until conditions
are relieved, and the white man has
made way for them. This tendency
Of the Japs is depicted in words ap-
pearing in the article Of Golfers,
being quoted fcom a representative
Of the farmers in speaking before a
legislative committee in California,
when he said: "If YOU don't give us