The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-01-08
WHEELWRIGHT
IS HEARD HERE
HIGH PRAISE GIVEN TO JAPANESE
Anti-Japanese Agitation characterized as
COwardly-A. A. A. Members
Are Stirred Up

Association, whose members are now
engaged in gathering data and prepar-
II < a bill which will eurtall land own
ership by Orientals. for initiation at
the next general election, will meet
" tn strenuous opposition was evidenced
Sunday night, when W. ID. Wheel
wright. of Portland, who by his many
years of business relationship with jap
a Tese has come to know them well,
Il ged against any action on the part of
the orgniztion that might JeOparadiZe
tie friendly relations of Japan and the
United States.
Mr.. Wheelwright's address was de-
liFered under auspices of the Riverside
/ rum. Following the address, l.. B.
& bson. who presided, stated that the
Jrum would meet Sunday night for
a discussion of the points raised by MIR.
" heelwright. Commenting after the
meeting on the statements made by the
81 eaker, members of the nti-Asiatic
4 Ssociation declared that Mr. Wheel
v lights opposition would do more
t an anything else to stimulate the
o, ganlZation of fruit growers to fur
tler activity.
we are going right ahead with our
on ginal idea, says K. +. Scott. Il
& / many letters from local people and
from outside on the subject. Some
" sh to know Just what our idea is and
nat our aims are. All are in SYM
ptthy with the movement. Many let
tots contain suggestions that will be
htlpful others wish to know how they
{, n help. A little later. when we have
our bill drafted, a few people will be
n eded to circulate the petitions in
o. Ter that we may get our bill on the
ballot. All Of our members. signing
Our pledge not TO sell or lease real es-
tute to Japanese. are charged fee of
81"
The address by Mr.. Wheelwright was
for the most part recital of japanese
cIstoms. He paid mastery and elo.
qlent tribute to the development of
the Japanese nation, declaring it the
e iual if not the superior in many re
5 i'ects. of nations of the western world.
In 20 years of business relations
with the Japanese, said Mr. Wheel
fright. everything has been adjusted
with absolute fairness on the part of
the Japanese.
While originally japanese merchants
were not clothed with the chivalry that
was one of the characteristics of the
| higher classes, as the nation developed
even those who dealt with money. he
said. came to absorb the chivalry.
Whether or not. said MIR. Wheel
wright. the fair dealings of the Jap
| L,., Il ,.f IA
from the ancient chivalry or from the
maxim honesty is the best policy |
will not presume to say
Mr.. Wheelwright cited, during his
talk, an instance Of alleged injustice of
American criminal laws. where under
the Oregon laws man was found
guilty. on circumstantlal evidence. of
murder. He is now in the penitenti-
ary, although the perpetrator of the
crime has confessed. The Governor
it was stated, has declined pardon,
because no recommendation has been
received from the prosecuting attorney
in the case who. it was stated, delayed
with his recommendation because of
politics. He declared that things would
not be conducted in such manner in
Japan.
Mr.. Wheelwright asserted that Japan
would be the greatest obstacle to an
Oriental overthrow of western civliza-
ton. the fear of which is today so of
ten expressed. japanese, the speaker
said, have shown how they consider
many things Of western civilization su-
perior to their own, embodying the
customs in their own code of living.
He cited the so called Gentlemen s
Agreement between this country and
Japan. whereby immigration Of labor
ers was restricted. He asserted that
Japan bad religiously observed the
terms of the agreement, but that il
was in their power to resclnd it.
He appealed against an act that
might irritate Japan because of the
existing mutually beneficial business
relations. However, he acclaimed tina,
the strongest appeals he could make
were not based on any business rela
tlons. He suggested that America joir
Japan in an exploitation, using thai
word in its best sense, of China, moi
only for the good Of themselves but fol
China's as well. He said the Unitet
States might influence Japan to bet
ter role in her Chinese affairs than the
Nipponese government was now beinl
charged with.
1t had been announced that Mr.
Wheelwright's address would in no wis,
he argumentative, but merely an ex
postorv talk on things of the Orient
When he ended his address with an un
qualified opposition to the activities o
the Anti.Asiatic Association he fairl,
threw bombshell into the meeting
He declared the anti-J apanese activi
ties resulting from c0wardice and ma
tionl selfishness. He cited statistic
comparing japanese populations of al
Northwestern states with the white
The total japanese in the Northwest
he said, was 1918 as compared witt
!. l.l44. 344 whites. In Oregon he said tn
whites reached 672, 765 as compares
W tn 4. 308 Japanese The latest stats
tics showed, il was stated, that Japan
ese operated III Oregon farms of
total of GAIT acres. Japanese, how
ever, owned but 2, 1893 acres of the land
farmed.
He compared the japanese residen
of America with the laborer comin
here from European states. and hi
findings were complimentary to tn
japanese. He eclared Americans ha
nothing to fear from Oriental invasion
The prejudices giving rise to attack
on the Orientals. he asserted. woul
4 make America disgrace among tn
nations
"Be bold" cried Mr.. Wheelwright
''in all things be bold Match Japanes
industry with industry; match her in
telligence with our intelligence, and W
/ will have nothing to fear"
\ In the course of his talk he mad
II several references to the League o
4 Nations, which by inference. at least
4 he strongly approved. He was ais
n eulogistic of President Wilson and hi
d deals.
\ Judging by comments heard since
Y the meeting Of the Forum next Sunda
! night bids fair to be well attended.