The Washington herald., 1919-11-07
BY SENATOR JAMES d. PHELAN


nese who are always described as
proud people and who are seeking
racial equality. Hence, there has been
a certain subservience on the part of
the administration and former ad-
in a diplomatic way,
to avoid any conflict or irritation.
l have verJ little sympathy with
the manner in which We have ap-
preached the subject, but can un-
derstand the reason for 1t. Japan's
peaceful penetration of America has
not had effective resistance because
Of our fear OF international friction.
However. We can now talk on this
subject In perfectly free way,
whereas before, l have felt a certain
restraint although i saw the danger
in the encroachment upon my State
and did make my loud protest on ac-
count Of our association with Japan
against a common enemy.
The truth is that in the attitude
Of Californians there is no question
Of race prejudice; it is simply a ques-
tion of self-preservation.
Hawaii Under Jap Control
At this very hour Hawaii is in the
hands of an army of japanese occu-
patton. Her Ieservists are in possess
sion of this Territory and l12.0oo jap
anese outnumber the 1900 Americans
in the naval base of our Pacffic feet.
In California We have an informed
opinion upon the japanese aggression.
We know that 100000 japanese are
constantly increasing their numbers.
They are doing this by law evasion.
surreptitious entry and by phenomenal
hfr-fk, oGiN
the history of Hawaii by adding the
peril of extensive land ownership and
control.
with our own. They are irradicably
japanese, nonassimilable and owe
allegiance to Japan. The Nationals Of
Japan are swGrming the Pacific coast.
Claims Agreement Broken.
The "Gentlemen's Agreement" has
broken down and II Is our stern duty
to consider our own country before
the interests of other nations.
1t is for this reason that 1 have
introduced a bill in the Senate which
will exclude the Japanese Just as the
Chinese are excluded now IL the bill
is enacted into law.
1 am not ignorant of the dangers
which lurk in Japanese dominancy in
the Pacific and would turn her con-
quering armies back upon Asia where
they belong. 1t is time to hold our
ground.
If Japan must expand. then her
expansion by agreement with emma
and Siberia is more acceptable to us
than her expansion in America.
Organizing to Suppress Evil.
The farming communities of Cali
fornia are organizing to suppress the
Japanese evil. and have formed the
Fourteen Counties Association" en-
bracing most of the great Sacramento
Valley in the northern part Of the
State, and the Allen Regulation
League" in the Imperial Valley; both
organizations have been formed to
combat the influx of Japanese and
their slogan is: Keep the land in the
hands of the white people"
For many reasons the operations of
the "Gentlemen's Agreement" have
been unsatisfactory. The Japanese
steamships have brought great num-
bers to Mexico and they have come
over the border. They seek control Of
the land by share of the crops, lease
hold or purchase and because of their
great industry, when working for
themselves, and excessive hours of Ia
Dor. they become impossible competi-
tors.
The best agricultural lands of the
State are falling into their hands. The
l believe is directed from
Toxic and although the advancing
army comes without marshal tread, it
Is none the less. an army of conquest
Money Goes to FatherIand.
In a very short time. unless pre-
vented. Japan will control the agricul-
tural area of California. All Of the
money they make goes to Japan. 1t
does not circulate among the various
trades and Industries; 1t goes from
the Japanese producer who takes 1t
out of the soil to the Japanese middle
man; to the Japanese storekeeper; to
the japanese banker, and thence to
Japan.
The "Gentlemen's Agreement" was
by Mr.. Roosevelt in 1907.
Japan agreed to refuse passports to
her laborers, but all students. merch-
ants and professional men were not
to be denied.
However. the exceptions made were
that japan had the right to issue
passports to laborers who had once
resided in the United States and
wished to RETURN to the parents,
wives and children Of laborers in
America, and to any laborer who had
secured title to land here and wished
to possess it.
1t can readily be seen how unsatis-
factory, with such wide latitude as
these lax laws suggest, an open viola
ton of the spirit of the agreement
could easily obtain.
Marry "Pieture Brfdes.s
To begin with. American Jana
nese- laborers were married to
women they had never seen, by
proxy and they were known as
picture brides" No ceremony is
necessary for the Empire has given
them passports as wives" under
the "gentlemen's agreement, and
they are led to work in the fields
beside the, men. The women COM
ing In and taking up the duties of
becomes q mother and a
child born upon the soil Is entitled
TO own land. and the Japanese are
now. in the name of their children.
taking agricultural land for which
hey are by the law denied the
privilege of ownership-a clear
evasion of the law-and thar fhs