The Washington herald., 1920-06-07

ing from back East" Enter John
Chinaman, and he ultimately be-
came an integral part of the life
and scenery of Northern California.
He was a necessary and a welcome
adjunct to the commercial develop
ment Of San Francisco.
Now Seattle, rightly named the
cash box OF Alaska and surnamed
"aueen of a thousand waterways"
did not get under headway until
long afterward. In fact, Seattle
has been a growth of the last quar-
ter of a century, while San Fran
cisco has figured in the Pacific trade
for seventy-five years.
Those who settled the States of
Washington and Oregon of necessi-
ty had to be hardy folk. They were
principally of Baltic origin-Ffnns,
Danes. Norwegians and Swedes;
people of Minnesota and the Dako-
tas who had moved on. Nor was
numbering the sort of work for Chi
neses who could cook. launder and
chambermaid most perfectly for
forty miners. but were found to be
decidedly out of place in the rugged
strenuous Northwest. Exit John
Chinaman from Seattle, and his go
iday to the shame Of those partici-
pating in the shootings.
Meantime Japan. awakened from
her slumber in 1854 by Commodore
Perry. L. s. N. and believing there
was sincerity in the language OF
the first American-Japanese treaty.
there shall be a perfect. permanent
and universal peace and a sincere
and cordial amity between our peo-
ple." turned her eyes westward as
the only outlet then open for her
excess island population.
The japanese came and were g.
most active and worthy factor in
the early development OF Seattle.
They were not wanted in Northern
California and were plainly told so.
Blow to san Francisco.
Thus we have Chinese San
Francisco and a Japanese Seattle.
And the years dragged on. When
one group of japanese shipping
merchants decided to put a line Of
fast going and beautifully equipped
steamships into bi-monthly contact
with the United States Seattle was
selected as its western terminus
and not San Francisco. Seattle is
one thousand miles. or four Gays,
nearer than San Francisco.
San Francisco has never recov-
cred from the jolt of that transfer.
Only the Japanese are now operar-
ing passenger ships from American
soil that people want to ride in.
Long Land Leases Taken.
An American dealer in farming.
orchard and truck lands told me
that he had leased thousands of
acres now being operated by Jap
anese. The land is usually leased
! for ninety-nine years and the pur-
chase price turned over as prepaid
rent. He said the former owners
got handsome price for their prop
critics, else they never would have
let go. They did not have to sell.
Most of them sold out because they
wanted to live in town. Only Jap
anese born in the United States can
own land in California, and the in
tent is to pass federal legislation
barring these children of aliens
from land ownership.
What is all this fuss one reads
about and what is the matter with
the Japanese?" I asked.
-He works and he succeeds" was
the reply.
| suncient explanation. Now IL the
Japanese would only work and
turn his profits over to some white
native SON. he probably would
share popularity with the Chinese
The Japanese idea of work is not
bad-a sixtcen-hour cay. For white
labor the legal clock has been set
at eight hours all the way from
Tia Juana to Vancouver. which in
cidentally, is the precise distance
between drinks.
One charge against the Japanese
IL true. has merit. namely, that ev-
cry penny they make they send tc
Japan. I am not so sure that even
1 that Is true. Several American
bankers of repute with Japanese
depositors tell me that most Amer
ican-Japanese are opposed, to the
return OF their gains to Japan. jap
tanese. no more than anybody else
like to be twice taxed. Some of II
doubtless does go overseas, but not
all OF IL, else where would they get
the money to make the investments
that are being complained OF and
legislated against7
/ II L were a North Californian
sweating under the anti-Japanese
complex. think I would have a
| better case than " seen upon the
surface or say less. Wars are often
started through loose talk. There
Is one principle the Japanese gov
ernment may be depended on to in
sist upon. 1t Is that the rights and
! duties of subjects of the Mikado who
are already In America be defined
Ipn the same general principles gov.
/ erning those of the imnigrantf
from European countries.
tCopyrsht. 1890. Ax fsblic Ledger Col