Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-08-17
QUARREL WITH
JAPAN LOOMING
CALIFORNIA MAY ADOPT DIS
CRiMINAToRY LEGISLATION
IN NOVEMBER.
LAND OWNERSHIP THE ISSUE
Coast People Say Number of Orien-
tails There Is Increasing and That
the Gentiemen's Agreement Is Being
Violated
BY JAMES p. HORNApAY.

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY.
Washington. diplomatic contro-
versy between the United States and
Japan is threatened because of the
possibility of discriminatory legisla
ton by the state of California against
the Japanese residents.
Already cambridge Colby. secre-
tary of state, has received representa-
tons from the Japanese ambassador
here, and these are known to have
been purely informal and only intend
ed to direct the attention of the Uni
ted States government to the Cal
ifOrnia situation. Legislation which
it is proposed will be submitted to
popular referendum at the California
election In November involves the is
sue whether the Japanese shall be
permitted to own land in that state.
Five separate propositions each of
which hinges on land ownership, are
included in California proposals. First,
it is proposed to prohibit land owner
ship by the japanese; second, to pro-
hibit American-bOrn japanese minors
from acquiring real estate; third. to
prohibit the Japanese from leasing
any land; fourth, to prohibit the Jap
anese parents from being guardians
of their children's property; and fifth,
70 prohibit the japanese from owning
interest in corporations holding land
GentIemen's Agreement Violated?
Va oh n yAlI HDdAr.
stands that the United States gov
ernment can take no legal action, ex-
cept to suggest TO the California state
officials that no legislation should be
enacted to offend Japan. Violation
on the part Of the state of the So
called gentleme:ls agreement between
this country ana Japan might lead to
difficulties between the two govern
mentS. The z mtlemen'S agreement,
made in 1907, provides for the control
by Japan of japanese immigration to
this country, but the CalifOrnians
claim that it is being violated in spirit
by the Toxic government and that
the influx Of Japanese, with lower
standards of living and incessant
work, is a menace to the native Amer
leans. Under the gentlemen's agree
ment, Japan agreed to issue passports
to her labOrerS to enter territories con-
tiguouS to the United States, and she
also recognized the right of the United
States to deny entry to this country of
Japanese laborerS whose passports did
IA fnI N
States. Further, Japan agreed to is
sue passports to this country to Jap
anese of the following classes: TRAY
elers. business and professional men,
students and skilled workers; labOrers
and nOnlabOrers who had before 1907
lived in the United States and Jap
anese who had acquired farms in the
United States and wished to return
TO this country to take active charge
of their property.
Effort to obtain official and accurate
iata on the japanese question on the
Pacific coast is now being made by
The immigration committee of the
house of representatives. Headed by
Congressman Albert Johnson of Wash
fngton. the committee is conducting
It's investigations, including public
hearings in California, attention being
conferred in that state because of the
proposed discriminatory state legisla-
ton.
Picture Bride Problem.
Californians assert that the Jap
anese population in their state is in
creasing at an alarming rate, but this
IS denied by the japanese, who assert
their increase since 1907 has been
about 10000 The picture bride, crit
les of the Japanese say, is violation
of the gentlemen's agreement because
as soon as she arrives in this country
she becomes a Iaborer. besides rearing
children. The japanese claim the pic
ture bride follows the usual custom
of their land, the parents of the couple
arranging the marriage, and the ex-
change CT photographs is matter Of
Identification and convenience of the
contracting parties when they meet
st an American port The Japanese
also say that legal ceremony is per-
formed in this country.
The picture bride problem is ex-
pected to end this fall, for the Toxic
government has agreed to issue no
more passports to them. However,
the last of the outstanding passports
do not expire until fall, so arrivals of
the picture brides may be expected
to continue until that time. The great
est number of picture brides to arrive
in this country any one year was in
1918 when a few more than 1000 were
/ landed.
Soft Drink Tax Must Be Paid.
| The internal revenue bureau, col
lector of all the federal taxes, is
making ready for a drive that Com
missioner William NJ. Williams ex-
poets will bring millions of dollars in
TO the treasury. The soft-drink busi-
ness has grown enormously since the
beginning of nationwide prohibition,
and the collection OF a cent or two
from each soda water. pop. ice cream
sundae. etc. is giving the revenue of
| ficials grave concern.
Neglect or wilful evasion Of the law