The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-01-15
AS TO MOTIVES

IL has grown to the point Of curse.
that. when some individual OF element
Of individuals agitstes public move
ment with which We disagree. We rise
up in our wrath and cry. Politics -
The Portland Spectator, in many ways
most estimable publication, discusses
under heading. '0n Information and
Belief" topics of national and local
interest. In the issue Of last week,
the Spectator deals with the japanese
problem. 1t does, not enter into the
Hood River problem specifically, but
touches on the Wheelwright address
here. The Spectator, as the brief
comment states, has received word
from Hood River correspondent that
Mr. Wheelwright did not arouse Hood
River people, and that the local anti
Asiatic activity is promoted by politi-
clans and demagogues. In this in
stance the Spectator certainly acted on
misinformation and FASTENED to impugn
the motives of most earnest Hood Riv-
er citizens by crying politics. We wish
that the Spectator might have been
represented here Sunday night We
most emphatically resent the insinua.
tions and direct statements Of the
Spectator. Hood River citizens. in
public comment at least, have not i'm
pugned the motive of Mr.. Wheel
wright, and they have not questioned
the honesty of his appeal.
Nothing that Mr.. heelwIight said,
or that the Spectator quoted him as
saying. in any way applies to the prob
lem that confronts the Hood River val
ley. Here in one of Oregon's S garden
spots the rapidly increasing possession
of real estate by Japanese the past
year pointed to the permanent resi-
dence and gradual growth Of an alien
people. 1t is but human and natural
that Hood River people think of the
protection Of their homes and the
homes of their children from this in
trusion of people who are non. assim-
liable.
Hood River people realize the ma
tional and international phase Of the
question. They are not desirous Of
embarrassing the national government
nor leopardizing the interests of com
mercial relations. They are not hostile
to japanese as individuals. Indeed. up
to this year they have not been greatly
concerned with worry over the Japan
ese residents. 1t is likely that two
people never resided together more
peaceably and friendly than do the
japanese and whites of the Apple Val
ley. But they are earnestly endeavor-
ing by some action to eliminate the
worry over the future, when possibly
the Hood River valley may become a
colony of Japanese.
The people of Hood River valley are
not radical and ,hairbrained, as the
Spectators comment implies.
Another Oregon publication has
raised the cry of politics in its com
ments on the japanese question the
Manufacturer. published at Salem. 1t
is really rather interesting to read rel
ative to recently announced japanese
activities in Crook county.
The great Inland Empire has long
lald fallow to everything but the sage
brush and wild animals. The state has
done little or nothing to encourage pro.
duction of anything but Jack rabbit
and coyote politicians and agitators
who are death against any man work
ing over six hours a day at less than
dollar an hour and 81. 50 an hour for
overtime, or producing anything but
initiative and referendum measures to
lower rates of interest and Jack up
wages to the point where HOLIDAYS are
continuous and p9yrolls out of the
question. The invasion of the big op-
orator from the San Joaquin valley is
looked upon AS menace to the city
politicians who neither toll nor spin
nor raise spuds or anything but contn-
uous political hell.
Perhaps the Manufacturer believes
in fighting the devil with fire. Any.
how, doesn't the above sound like
spoutings of political spellbnder!