The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-01-10
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With the discovery from the annual
reports of the circuit judges of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii that seventy-tive per-
cent or more of the large number of
divorces granted in this Territory dur
ing the past year were in cases where
both the plaintiff and defendant are
Japanese, an inquiry has started which
may result in a congressional investi-
cation and the ending of custom by
which thousands of Japanese labOrers
residing in Hawaii and throughout the
! United States nave sent to Japan for
! their wives, choosing them frem photo
graphs, arranging fox bringing them in
to this country and marrying them as
soon as the women landed.
This is the only condition under
which the immigration authorities will
J allow the women to land here. Hun
dreds of these weddings have taken
place in Honolulu, with the immigra.
/ ton officials as witnesses. The Chris
tian customs have been followed in the
/ ceremonies.
Many instances are known where
these marriages have been sincerely
planned and carried out by Japanese
laborers. Hundreds of happy japanese
homes in the Territory testify to this
But in face of this the startling fact
remains that Japanese divorces outnum
Der by nearly three to one the number
of divorces secured by persons of other
nationalities.
1t is also the report of officials in
Honolulu that there are more japanese
prostitutes in Hawaii than all other ma
tiOnalities combined. This is only re
port, however, and no figures have beer
secured to substantiate it. But the only
manner in which great majority Of
these unfortunate women can get int
the United States is by becoming thu
bride of Japanese already here. One,
this is accomplished, they are entitled
to all the rights and protection of {
citizen of the country.
Startling Conditions.
A recent investigation made by thu
immigration officials in California dis
closed the fact mat there are more Jap
anese prostitutes in that State than al
other nationalities combined.
These conditions have resulted ir Civ
ing rise to the belief that great ma
jority of these "picture bride" wed
dings are not entered into in GOOD
faith; in other words, at least one party
to the obligation has not been sincere
in accepting the marriage relation.
1t is believed that an Investigation
will now be made and that the result
will demonstrate that an organization
exists by which women are being
brought here from Japan for immOra
purposes. From Honomlu it is not diff
fcult for these women to make theil
way, in charge of their keepers, to the
mainland, there to be used in the Illicit
traffic which the government is fighting
hard TO stop.
Chinese are not granted the SAINT
privilege. Instances have been fonnC
where Chinese brothci keepers on thu
mainland have paid as much as $1,000
for a Chinese girl. These dealers il
human flesh prospered for years unit
the government ended their traffic anC
sent several of the dealers TO prison.
Danger in Picture Brides.
According to government officials th'
japanese ARE the most cunning raei
with which they have 20 deal. In mos
instances their efforts 20 deceive IN,
government officers are discovered, bul
II the picture bride custom proves q
be another ruse Of d sonlloss organiza
ton, n means that 10 far Us Japan d
concerned AZ least, The bars baye beer
d0wn for the pact I've years or NOR
and thousands upon thousands Of un
fortunate daughters 0f the land " Nip
pom have beea imported 30 this eouHify
lnppAfentlY for noble purpose, bot IA
reality 10 be usgd iu lTafie wbicl