Evening star., 1923-12-24
JAPANESE OUSTED,
CALIFORNIA LOSES
Drastic Land Laws Reduce
Farm Output, Send Race ,
to Eastern Coast.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star
SACRAMENTO, Calf, December "a.
After twenty-six years of legislative
endeavor to drive Japanese from Cal
lfornia agriculture and with those
efforts finally crowned with success
through recent decisions of t6e
United States Supreme Court uphold
ing the anti-alienx land Laws, this
state today finds itself wondering if
II mas not succeeded 2. little too well.
FIRST effects Of the complete GUST
ing OF the O1entals from all agri-
urai S<tivities, except as day
"ase >arhers. are just commencing
10 lake themselves felt and already
-Nefe is tendency in many sections
TO regret that anti-alien land legis-
iation has been made so sweeping
ms IeeIing is rapidly gaining
headway as thousands of Japanese
FORMER status as wage-earning farm
hands, are preparing to depart for
states farther east. Something like
ho'oeo Orlentals are expected TO join
IN Inls migratory movement, and Ore
Son and Washington, with similar
land laws. will contribute many to
the eastward hegira.
Coming to Eastern Coast.
The objective points, according to
Japanese associations here, will be
along the Atlantic seaboard and in
the central states. where the Japa-
nese plan to establish truck farms.
Inc ant-alien land act prohibits
All persons ineligible to citizenship
mostly japanese. Chinese and HinduS
from owning or leasing farm lands,
from tilling land on crop-share
agreements, and also from owning
STOCK In land holding corporations.
attract Chinese in California. Most
or them are in mercantile pursuits or
conduct lotteries. The Hindus are
rev and they have always been con-
tent to be wage earners, but the anti
alien land laws hits the Japanese with
terrlhc force. for out of the 10000
Japanese in California 5S per cent are
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and
four -tifths of that number are "on
their own"
Briefly summarized the situation
mere is that, having had its anti-Jap-
anese legislation declared valid, the
state is suddenly confronted with
$4,000 acres of farm lands left with
out tenants, and an annual income of
S73,o00.000 derived from the sale OF
JapaneSe-groWn farm products in
eastern markets is suddenly Topped
OFT. Coincidentally there has been a
sudden depreciation in the farm land
values.
Call for White Farmers.
The cry for white farmers from
other states to replace the Japanese
already has gone out. But even with
white farmers there is still a cues
tion whether California can ever re-
gain the agricultural prestige which
the japanese have helped her attain
1t is an accepted truth here that Jap
anese farmers can make two blades
OF grass or anything else grow where
other farmers grow but one.
In 1909 the total value of Califor-
mas Japanese grown crops was $6.-
2o5'oo0; as compared with $4,000. 600
farmed one-eighth of the states A.
100000 acres of irrigated farm land
but from this one-eighth they pro-
duced almost one-third of California; s
annual S250,000,000 crop of farm
products.
OF the various California vegeta BILE
and fruit crops last year, Japanese
farmers produced asparagus, as per
per cent; cantaloupes, 20 per cent;
onions, go per cent; tomatoes. so per
cent; mixed vegetables, 95 per cent;
grapes, 80 per cent; deciduous fruits,
40 per. cent; lettuce, 90 per cent;
sugar beets, As per cent, and pota-
toes, 40 per cent.
In the Imperial valley, where the
japanese last year raised 20 per cent
or CaIl1ornlas cotton crop, thousands
of acres next spring will remain un-
planted. Land owners, meeting in
Stockton, asserted that 10000 acres
IN that section and $4,000 acres in
the rich Sacramento river delta re-
sion must be planted in barley if
planted at all.
Would Amend Law.
Already there is in progress a
movement by land owners to have
Ia
through initiative and referendum to
permit japanese farming on crop-
share agreements. Unless a special
session of the legislature is called.
however, no change can be made for
AZ least a year and a half. Even then
- ar1e endment will meet with much
u sition in the cities.
lIeanwhile. the Japanese declare
they are finished with their long
tight to stay in California. The east,
they say offers rich opportunities
for truck farming with no anti-alien
land laws.