The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-02-12
Is Ii Well?


knowledge on legal and national af-
fairs, yet reading and listening to
voices around me on our valley Japan
ese question, | ask, Is it well for us to
stir IN racial feeling?
When | came here seven years ago
there were about 300 japanese people
in the valley. Whether they have in
creased or not am unable to say.
do not think there is mucn increase.
The japanese have raised about 20
per cent of the strawberries in recent
years. The American has turned his
attention to growing cherries, pears
and apples In greater abundance.
There has thus been a change in pur.
pose. The American rented his land
to the Japane,e freely, turning his at
tentlon to growing the other fruits.
The American quit because of unpleas-
ant circumstances in the culture of
strawberries; low price when he quit ::
back bending and hard effort to pro-
duce the fruit.
The japanese rented tracts for berry
culture and the fortune of good prices
came his way. He has made money.
He did not build good dwellings, on
rented land. He was feeling his way
through that industry ana invading
American territory for better cundl-
tions. The American willingly gave
place to the Japanese in strawberry
culture. Americans turned their at
tenton to larger things and employed
Japanese labor
Our national and state Legislation fa-
vors the japanese in the invasion they
ko7 Ia = ~, {
The Legislation has Disseminated
against the Chlnsse in favor Of Japan
ese.
SO far as the japanese government
IS concerned there is no RECIPROCITY
Are we at a disadvantage here?
About 70 years ago Americans invad-
ed Mexico, Mexicans favored it.
Americans took large capital to MeXi
co. They bought with money a plenty
of their own; opened up oil wells and
mines, bought tracts and planted rub
ber trees. Mexicans planted tracts,
advertised them for sale. our men
bought, without seeing in many IN
stances. Sometimes they paid their
money for nothing. They had plenty
and to spare
There is law Of nature, or some
higher power, Of Use or lose" The
MeXlcans did not use the wealth
sources of their country. They invited
more enterprlsing people with large
capital to invade those fields of wealth.
The MeXlcans became jealous and en-
vious Of American success and treach-
erously turned on them and murdered
more than 500 Americans. We deplore
that.
Is it well that Mexicans manifested
the spirit they did?
You see strong points lacking in the
parallel. Japanese are not invited to
bring capital here They come in at
the open door. They earn money and
raise capital here and invest in land
and rentals. and business opportunities.
Certain japanese firms finance Japan
ese enterprises.
AS long as the door is open is it we'll
for US to stir up racial feeling? If the
invasion is against US in this valley
would it not be better since legislation
opened the door, to have legislation
close It?
As a Christian believe that all ma.
tions have equal privileges before God
do not believe all nations are equal,
each to the other. Spirit and intelli-
gence are low in some nations and in
Others of high order.
To the best Of my knowledge and be-
lief American representation in Japan
is not for exploitation of that country
but to be blessing to it.
What is the purpose Of japanese in
vason Of America? Is it to be bless
ing to US? ls that the japanese pur-
pose? 1t is well if that is the purpose
of the Invasion When our mis-, ionaries
go to Japan they go with the purest
motives they carry their support with
them And the very first thing they do
is to learn the japanese language. min
gle with that people and speak to them
in their own tongue. They are law
abiding with high level Of good spi1it
and intelligence 1t would help the
japanese people if they would speak to
one another in the English language
and dissolve clannish habits, respect
our American institutions and Flag
plant and build well where they have
holdings and take on the larger, freer
American spirit.
Quoting from one Of the greatest
writers, who said God has made Of
one blood all nations to dwell on all the
face Of the earth. y And again, lie
has appointed their bounds and habta
tions. He has fenced the human fam
lily together on a sphere gliding through
the universe Is it we'll that We STIR
up racial feeling? Before the eonstitu-
ton of the United States all men are
free and equal
With a fervent wish for right action
and for peace rather than strife, am.
Faithfully, J b. Lister