The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-01-30
Unjust Restrictions,

HVSo aPpchIH W Ie UOIn nAJurdl ana
just.
Unjust Restrictions,
The effect Of the ruling Of Secretary
Wilson practically tics to Hawaii all
Ameriean-born Japanese. They cannot
travel TO the mainland, because the
mainland immigration officials will pass
only those Japanese who come with
passports from the Japanese govern.
ment, according to the terms of the
'Gentlemen's Agreement, and these
passports the American Japanese
naturally cannot get, as over them the
Japanesc government has no jurisdic.
tion whatever. The Japanese are born
under the flag and on American soil,
and are American born citizens, tho
equal undor the Consultation of any
other American eitizen--except when
they wish to exercise the ordinary right
OF an American citizen to travel within
their own country. They cannot 60
abroad, because II they do they would
be denied permission to return, in the
same why that they are denied permits.
sion to land on the Coast. The only
way IN which the local japanese. Ameri,
cans may exercise their American rights
is TO be ready to prove their citizenship
whenever called upon by any federal
Safe in Hawaii only.
SO long as they stay in Hawaii, the
local Japanese Americans are safe.
Once abroad they are men without a
home, without flag and without
government to look after their inter
ests. II is. hardly TO be wondered at
that the Japanese of Hawaii feel ag.
grieyed that tho expense and the trou.
ole soinc thousands Of them have gone
TO to make sure of their birthright APP
pears TO have been wasted in very large
part.
shinpo's Report, V
Z In reporting the matter yesterday,
the Hawaii ShinpO said. '
Japanese born in Hawaii are en-.
titled to American citizenship, such
rights being guaranteed TO them by the
Constitution of the United States. To
enjoy these rights Japanese born. in
Hawaii register the birth Of their chill.
dren born hore and are given Hawaiian
birth certificates, after a thorough in.
vestigation being made by the secretary
of the Territory tGE, I
1T is claimed by Japanese that these
certificates are prima facie evidence and
leave no doubt as to the citizenship OF
those concerned, and leave no doubt as
10 tho right Of Japanese so qualified TO
travel between Hawaii and the main.
land of the, United States.
The recent ruling of the depart.
ment OF labor at Washington bars all
Japanese with these certificates from
entering the United States. A short
time ago q Japanese named Nobuiehi
ikeda WAS refused admission landing at
San Francisco on the ground that the
certificate was yalueless. He was de.
ported, and upon his arrival in Homo.
lulu laid his complaint before Secretary
Mott Smith, who took up the matter
with the San Francisco authorities as
well as with the bureau of labor at
Washington, f ~.
Only Good In Hawaii. .-
Mott-Smith received a reply from
the inspector general at Washington,
stating that these certificates were only
good in Hawaii and that they could
not be taken as priml facie evidence
rs to the citizenship Of the applicants
for landing at San Francisco.
III q Hawaiian.born japanese wishes
70 go TO California, according to the
general of immigration, he
must bring at least two witnesses with
him to prove that he is an American
citizen. This. is looked upon here as
This matter has stirred up the
local Japanese considerably, as the prin.
opal reason for getting out these Ger.
tihcates was that those SO qualified
,opld travel between here and Califor.
MA. The Japanese all through the Ter.
ritory have gone to considerable OK
pense and trouble 10 preparing these
certificates, and now they are told by |
The department Of labor that they are !
valueless. Y -.
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