Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-06-12
MUST MEETPROBLEM
OPENING OF PANAMA CANAL
WILL BRING HoRDEs OF IN.
MIGRANTS TO THE WEST.
PRfStNTS vtRY StRIOuS QUESTION
It Is Said That Japs Marketed 80 Per
Cent of Strawberry Crop in West
ern Washington Last Year-50
Jap Stores in Seattle.


With the opening OF the Panama
canal it is certain our immigration
problem is becoming more complex
and more serious in several respects
than ever before. heretofore Euro
pean immigration has concerned prln-
cipally the Atlantic states and orlen-
tai immigration the Pacific states.
With the canal in operation it is likely
more OF the European immigration
will come through the Pacilic coast
ana more OF the oriental immigration
will go through to The Atlantic coast.
In other words, there is certain to be
a more general distribution OF all
kinds OF immigration to all parts OF
the country with corresponding COM
plication OF industrial, social and race
problems. viii the Pacific coast ports
be adequately equipped to handle the
immigrants they may expect and have
we on this coast the means OF putting
these immigrants to work in occupa-
tons that will not conflict unfairly
with native Americans?
During recent years there has been
a noticeable deterioration in the char
acter of European immigration we
have been receiving, which now pre-
sents an industrial and labor problem
similar to that involved in oriental i'm
migration, though in the case OF the
European immigration there is no
serious race problem involved.
Chinese exclusion has been satisfac-
tory to the people most concerned
residents of the Pacific coast states
but the admission Of Japanese and
other Asiatics is creating other orien-
tai problems Of more or less serious
ness and there is growing demand
that exclusion be extended to apply to
all Asiatics.
The seriousness of the Japanese
problem is indicated by the recent &C.
ton of California in passing an anti
alien land law. California's experi-
ence seems to demonstrate that, once
a foothold on the land is secured, jap
anese colonization operates to the ex-
clusion of the whites by forcing them
out of employment on the soil and by
the social incompatability of the two
races.
European immigration.
The old European immigration en-
gagged mostly in farming and funda-
mental and developing occupations,
but this immigration was highly desir-
able and thoroughly assimilative. The
present European immigration is
mostly not so desirable in character
and goes mostly to manufacturing CEN
tiers where it offers the cheapest Ia
Dor. From an economic and social
viewpoint, oriental immigration is
not only undesirable but these immi.
grants are largely inclined to engage
in farming, the grocery business and
fundamental occupations where the eff
fects of this competition with native
Americans is the more serious.
The Japanese problem is not con
fined to California. Portland and the
Sound cities are beginning to com
plain of similar conditions. 1t has
been recently stated that 90 per cent
of the Strawberries marketed in Sc
attic last year were raised by Japan
ese and that there are SO japanese
grocery stores in that city and sew
eral Of them are In high-class resi-
dence districts.
The Japanese people are great ant
progressive nation that is destined tt
be an important factor in the politi
cal and commercial affairs of the Pa
cific. We must give them grea
credit for their energy, courtesy ant
quickness Of perception but these at
tributes, together with their lowe
scale of living. when applied in ou
own land, only make the problem al
the more serious for the white farm
ers or business men concerned. jap
anese laborers have been excluded II
a measure since the Gentlemen
Agreement" of 1908. but this Is no
deemed sufficient and yet it is no
likely that Japan will acquiesce grace
fully to az drastic regulations as W
have enforced against the Chinese.
immigration has played an import
ant part in the growth and develop
ment of the United States and, wit
the better. safer and cheaper mean
of communication and travel Of t.
day. migration between the peoples G
different nations and all parts of tn
world Is destined to increase rattle
than otherwise. So wise laws an
proper regulations governing immigr'
ton are of the greatest Importance.
Causes Of Migration.
The natural law Of population is tn
chief cause of migratory movement
Migration is the necessary result I
the increse in population within Lin
tied areas. making readjustments
population necessary. Other cause
are for have been) wars religious ne