Imperial Valley press., 1919-03-15
ATTORNEY MAKES
REPORT ON HINDU
PROBLEM HERE

| problem is contained IN the report
published below by M. P. Shaugh-
messy of Fresno, attorney for the
Hindu associations of the state.
While the report mutually takes up
the situation from the Hindu point
of view, we believe it to be fair
statement and one of interest to our
many readers. The report follows:
"The Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan
! (Free Divine Communion) Society,
Stockton, California, and Hindustani
Welfare and Reform Society of
America, Ell Centre, California
| Gentlemen: In order that | might
make full investigation of the pres
ent condition of affairs which
brought about proposed legislation
attempting to prohibit the Hindoo
from holding land in the State of
California, | made trip to Impe-
rial Valley for personal investigation.
| desire to report as follows:
81 visited every city in Imperial
Valley, talked with business men,
including bankers, merchants, real
estate men, public officials, and law
yers, and also with farmers. l re-
gret to say that there is some JUS
tification for the complaints and
will set them forth herein in de-
tail.
81 was treated very we'll by these
men. with one or two exceptions, and
they also seem anxious for solu-
tion of the problem. | would say
that approximately from 65 to 70
per cent of the land in Imperial Val
ley is leased by the owners, who live
in the cities in the Valley or out
side of the Valley entirely. This land
is rich and requires careful cultiva-
ton and, owing to high taxes, cost
of water and the outstanding bonds,
must be farmed in the summer time
to produce sufficient yield to take
care of these items and make sub
stantial return to the owner of the
land. During the summer time, in
fact from April to October, it is very
hot in the Valley and therefore these
yncn have difficulty in securing white
men to handle the work or to farm
the land as it should be farmed.
Therefore there has been a tendency
toward leasing the land to japanese,
| MeXicans, Filipinos and Hindoos, who
do not seem to mind the intense heat,
and at the same time produce good
results.
"The prejudice seems to have CEN
tralized there against the Hindoo and
at the present time he is not in good
standing in Imperial Valley. A great
deal of this prejudice exists because
tie Hindoo is not understood and
because the actual facts have not
been placed before the people in such
a way that they can judge fairly anc
give him credit to which he is en-
titled (This is not due to any in
territorial act on anybody's part, but
merely because in that busy section
there has been no opportunity to Sc
cure full information.)
81 have summarized the complaints
and objections and find them to be
about as follows:
81. 1t is said that the Hindoo
picks the best land in the Valley;
pays an extraordinary high price for
Il his lease; secures this lease in Sep
tember or October, before other men
think of making lease for the fol-
lowing year and, as a result, he
does acquire the best portion of the
Valley.
"2. He works seven days in the
week; has no family ties or does
not attend church, and therefore does
not keep the Sabbath. This enables
him to do at least one-seventh more
work than the man with a family
and gives him that much advantage
in handling the land
''3. He is inclined to quarrel with
his countrymen and, as result,
there is a great deal of litigation be-
tween them and also a considerable
number of criminal prosecutions. In
fact, there are too many, and the re-
| suit is that these trials are costly
and use up the time of the county
officials and those connected with the
courts.
a. When suits are tried in just
! ices courts,s each one OF the litigants
seems to think it his duty to make
presents to the court, and in this
way embarrasses the justice to such
an extent that such acts become a
nuisance.
| "5. 1t is stated by some that the
Hindoo is not truthful; that he will
prevaricate without limit to secure
favorable terms for himself. (This
is not generally reported, but num-
ber of specified instances are al
leged.)
"6. He is reported by some bankers
as being inclined to speculate and
therefore not a good customer or
l'good risk.
~. Some of them have been known
to purchase wives and these women
are of not the highest character, and
! therefore not conducive to good cit
/ izenship. Some of them are white
and this fact in itself does not leave
a very pleasant impression.
"8. The white man objects to be-
ing surrounded by Hindu neighbors,
especially where he is raising fam
ily
80. Several accusations have been
made that they have taken more than
! their share of water and helped them