The Connecticut labor press., 1920-10-16
An Interesting Review of a Most
Important Question Written by
the Publisher Of the Sacramen-
to Bee Who Sees Real Menace
in the Steady, Overwhelming
Advance of an Unassimilable
Race.
By ". S. McCLATcHY, Publisher, Sac
ramento Bee.
(F'rom "Organized Labor" San Fran
cisco, September f, 1920

ramento Bee.
(From "Organized Labor" San Fran
cisco, September 6, 1920
When the House immigration Com
mittee was in the State of Washington
the Japanese immigration problem, it in
vited Organized Labor, at both Seattle
and Tacoma, to express itself on the
subject. There seems to have been no
authorized or formal response to that
request One member of Organized
Labor, however, who was before the
committee, in reply to direct question
from Congressman Baker, declared that
Organized Labor in Tacoma and Seattle
was not interested in the question sufhc-
iently to appear before the committee,
because in both places members of Or
ganized Labor were employed by the
japanese on the docks and had good
wages and good treatment.
From others the intirnation came
that years ago when Organized Labor
in the Pacific Northwest had been
eager to fight Japanese immigration it
had been given no support by the COM
munity generally, and now it was dis
posed to permit the fight to be carried
on by the farming and commercial in
terests that had commenced to feel the
pnich.
Whether either, or both, of these ex-
pressions supply the reason, it is evil
dent that Organized Labor in the Pa
cific Northwest has not yet given formal
indication that it recognizes the menace
of Japanese immigration and is anxious
to do its part in affording necessary pro-
lection to the Nation. It's attitude in
this matter is so diametrically opposed
+1.n& of ~ Ta1s
fornia, that the differences must be
ascribed to difference in local condi-
tions, which, in one case has encouraged
or forced thorough investigation of
the problem, and in the other has hid
den from those most vitality concerned
the realization of the grave menace in
volved
It is certain that Organized Labor is
no less patriotic and no less mindful
of its own interests in Washington than
in California it will not knowingly sell
its birthright for mess of pottage
served on the Japanese docks nor will
it deliberately encourage or permit con-
ditions which must lead, in time, to
control of this white mans country by
an alien, non-assimilable race of yellow
people.
California IS Opportunity for In
vestigation.
Wherein, then, lies the difference in
conditions which has made California
Labor, as we'll as California farmers,
and business men, fraternal organiza-
tiOns, civic bodies, women's clubs, and
unattached individuals, practically
unit in fighting this evil with all the
States power, and demanding of the
Federal Government that it exert its
authority to put an end to it?
California has better opportunity to
study the problem, and has improved
that opportunity during the past year
to the limit. In this State reside more
than 100000 Japanese, two-thirds of all
those in continental United States,
twice as many as have located in. the
AZ other States combined. And in this
State the 100000 have concentrated in
few localities where their plans of
peaceful penetration can secure best re-
suits with least effort, rs per cent. being
found in seven of our So counties.
Then, for year past, California has
cast the imelight of searching inves-
tigation on the effects of Japanese i'm
migration here, and the efforts to de-
ceive. the American people in regard
thereto through clever propaganda In
June, 1919, the writer's statement be-
fore the House immigration Commit
tee exposed the inevitable effects
which must follow the success of Sidney
Gulicks plan for extending privileges
as immigrants and citizens to Asiatics,
through passage of his percentage inn
migration bill Hearings before both
House and Senate immigration Com
mittees in September and October, 1919,
drew still further attention. thereto.
The American Legion, the Native Sons
of the Golden West, Organized Labor,
two Exclusion Leagues Gone operating
above the Tehachapi and one below,
and other instrumentalities took up the
fight in California, and as a result we
will vote in November $on an initiative
protective measure In Congress, Sen
ator Phelan and other members of the
California delegation were most active.
Under instructions of the State leg
islature, the State Board of Control
made an exhaustive study of the eff
fects of Japanese immigration in Cali
fornia, and presented the result there
of in an admirable and convincing re-
port, given to the public in August of
this year. The calm and deliberate
statement of facts made therein will
convince any intelligent and unpreJu-
diced American investigator. Upon
this statement Governor Stephens based
Continued on Fifth Pape0