New-York tribune., 1921-02-17
California $ Japanese Problem
Wallace wms Penisic Impressions on Repting The State
After Twentp Years in the East

anese seemed cheap and easy solu-
ton, and tho valleys were soon swarm
ing with 9 new breed of yellow men.
smaller and more earnest than the
Chinese. They were naive. Many of
them had never seen bicycle before,
or a hay-rake, or a patent harrow.
Their ability to learn and to apply
their learning was enormous. / shall
never forget what an old Yankee farmer
said to me last year as we strolled
through his almond grove and watched
a gang of Japanese across the river,
cultivating their potato fleld-leased
property - with gasoline tractors.
Good Lord, look at 'em! And to think
That twenty years ago I had TO teach
EN- how to harness az horse."
Japan came TO California as labor
er; she remained as g master What
you believe as to the japanese popula-
ton of California to-day will depend
on whether you side with the American
League for Justice or the Asiatic
Exclusion League. The Official census
reports quote the figures at something
over 10000. I am inclined to believe
that there are many more; if not
double that number, at least third
more. The smuggling in of Japanese
Is an industry at both the British
Columbian and Mexican borders.
Green" Japanese, just arrived ut
California farms, will answer you IN
Spanish if you address them in that
language-a souvenir of Mexico. There
Is also reason to doubt the veracity
Of the official census figures, as there
is suspicion that the japanese them
selves had finger in the pie at the
last head-eounting in California.
Let US be conservative, then, and
place the Japanese population of Cali
fornia at 100000. The vast majority
OF these are engaged in agriculture.
California has a population of about
3,5O0,Oo0 Less than million Of these
are farmers. California's land which
ls suitable to cultivation is much less
than generally supposed-about a sixth
OF the state. About fifth of this is
controlled by Orientals, either through
lease or ownership, The number of
Chinese and Coreans is comparatively
Insignificant.
The Japanese, then, control about a
fifth of California, agriculturaIly
speaking, and in that fifth they hold
the very cream of the soil. Without
taking into account Nippon's half-con-
fessed desire for equality in the United
States and unlimited immigration, Cal
ifornia ns she stands to-day has cause
Cor worry.
/ have no idea how the American
League for Justice came into being.
Probably it "just grew" generated by
the friction of great minds. thinking
righteously. But am we'll aware that
Japanese drive on public opinion
especially Eastern opinion-is now on.
The, missionary spirit Of Methodist and
| Baptist clergymen is adroitly taken ad-
vantage of by the delicate button
pressers of Toxic.
And this has its pathetic side, too,
since the California Japanese-backed
by some divine aid or other-are build
| ing Buddhist temples all over the state
in every hamlet where Japanese Chris
tian churches have become sufficiently
strong to endanger the true faith,
which is alteration of the Mikado. The
relations of the hungry Japanese pas
tor and the merry Buddhist congrega-
sion Of "Bly, California" which ] men