The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-01-15
ITIZENS RESPOND
TO WHEELWRIGHT
iPANESE IMMIGRATION DISCUSSED
riOaSneSs OF Problem SeDsed But Vari-
Gus Opinions as to its Solution
Are Advanced

? ms IN general, as was expressed Sun
3, y at meeting held under auspices
Riverside Forum, expresses an
4 arm over the Japanese immigration
oblem, opinions as to its ultimate SO.
ton are extremely varied. The Hood
I, yer Anti-Asiatic League, whose
embers are hoping TO secure the
ioption of an initiative bill at the
NJ general election, admit that the
neral problem is one for national
rlsdiction. but they declare that an
uergency exists that will not permit
lem TO await relief from the ultra
allberate action Of national Legislative
dies.
In the meeting Sunday night j. H.
j .tfrey warned against too hasty To-
al action as one that might irritate
1ngress and federal government. In
ne end. as he declared. those promot
& the anti-Japanese movement would
ary likely raise a problem that would
itimstely have to be taken in hand by
le national goverenmnt. Capt Geo.
*. Wilbur. chairman of the meeting.
Oweyer, cited that congress had been
4peatedly memoralized and that il had
acome apparent that some local action
lch as California has already taken
as necessary IN bringing the question
point of serious consideration. He
0inted out that California and Wash
gton already have bills against anti.
lien land ownership. When Oregon.
declared, and states further to the
ast begin to take similar action, con.
sess and federal authorities will sense
tne demand OF an increasing part Of
ne people.
MAJ. V. K. Abraham, one of Ore
on's delegates to the national conven-
ion Of the American Legion, which
dopted resolution in support of the
ontentions of the local Ant-Asiatic
association, in that no alien incapable
naturalization should be permitted
itizenship automatically by birth in
his country and that the aliens should
je prohibited from owning land, re
lorted Sunday night. He declared the
oldier-delegates from the middle west
nd east as apathetic to the question
ntl their fellows from Oregon, Wash
ngton and California explained the
ituation. After campaign of educa-
ion, DR.. Abraham said, the delegates
ealized the merits of the Pacific
casts appeals and offered their aid in
IS solution.
MIR Jeffrey again took the floor, fol
owing DR.. Abraham, and suggested
hat al cf
ducation might have similar effect
IN the civil population. He explained
lis apathy to the California situation
n 1906, when be was resident of the
middle west A resident of that sec
non Of the country. where there is lit
lie likelihood that Japanese is going
o buy out his neighbor and move to
he ranch next door, is not going to
give the question any serious thought
If his own accord. Mr.. Jeffrey sald,
out he will lend sympathetic ear, if
he problem is properly presented to
alm.
The socalled Gulick plan of immi
grafton. which has already been taken
under consideration by federal authori-
ties, was discussed by Roy d. Smith.
who declared the plan entirely too
Elastic and voiced strong opposition.
Mr.. Smith read testimony of Senator
phelan, of California, who testified be-
fore recent congressional committee
on immigration, for the purpose of
pointing existing conditions IN Calitor-
nia today and in support Of his disap-
proval of the Gulick plan. Mr.. Smith
probably represents the radical element
on the Japanese question in the Hood
River valley. In his talklhe said:
"You who visited the Portland Lewis
& Clark exposition probably remember
the big electric sign that streamed
across the landscape. 1t said, "Wato h
Tacoma Grow" 1t might very well
have read something like this: Watch
Tacoma Grow Yellow"
The meeting Sunday night was held
that citizens might discuss points
raised by an address by W. d. Wheel
wright on the Sunday evening before
l.. B. Gibson. chairman of the Wheel
wright meeting, on his introduction of
the speaker. stated that any questions
might be asked at the close of the ad-
dress, but on Mr.. Wheelwright's con-
clusion he closed the meeting without
granting members of the audience such
privilege. Mr.. Gibson explained that
he sensed feeling of strong oppos.
ion among Mr.. Wheelwright's 8 hearers
and that he feared the outcome. if
general discussion were allowed, would
not be in keeping with the dignity of
the occasion.
Capt. Wilbur, in opening the session
Sunday night, warned speakers against
any personal attack on Mr.. Wheel
wright, and the meeting, considering
the pitch to which the Portland man
lutely free of any personal attack.
Mr.. Wheelwright angered members
Of the Hood River Anti-Asiatic Assoc-
alton, when he characterized their ac-
ton in signing pledge against sale or
lease of real estate to Japanese as re-
suting from cowardice and national
selfishness. Capt. Wilbur declared that
statement unfortunate. and that he did
not believe the speaker to have meant
it in the terms in which the Hood Riv.
er men accepted it.
htV' Douuy huuIeboeu Tue lneelIHR
briefly. warning against the develop
ment of racial prejudice or hatred.
Other speakers Sunday night were j.
H. Koberg, j. W. Morton. Hugh G.
Ball and DR.. j. D. Cutlery. Mr.. Ball.
who was for many years engaged in
newspaper work in the Orient, ex'
planned how japanese permitted nc
foreigner to own land in their country
and that not even Korean laborets, now
subjects of Japan, were permitted tc
work in Japan. He cited that Japan
has recently revoked the privilege OF
the so-called picture brides. and gave
credit to this movement to Chas. 7
Sheriff.. who some time ago addressed
a gathering of the Americana apaness
club.
DR.. Cutlery in closing. repeating the
significant epigram, said:
He who fails to provide for his WI
' family IS worse than an infdel. Gentle
men. in this matter, We here are pro
tecting our own homes.