San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
Have Settled Their Own
Problem by Anti-land
Holding Acts.
UNCONCERNED BY ROW
Claim They Handled Their
Jap Situation and Let
1t Go at That.
By LEE OVERNIAN.


San Francisco, Cal, April ia
California, which really stands in the
background as the pivotal figure of
congressional legislation against Japa-
nese immigration is today seemingly
less concerned over the outcome of
that legislation than is Washington.
If there is any public feeling here
regarding the note of Ambassador
Hanihara speaking of grave conse-
quences" or regarding the congress-
ional action it succeeded in evoking
such feeling is not largely in evil
dence.
Prevailing opinion seems TO be
that California settled her own Japa-
nese immigration problem when she
enacted anti-land legislation and had
1t upheld by the United States SUI
preme Court. Having banned the
Nipponese from agricultural activities
the one field in which the white
Californian could not compete with
them economically. and having
achieved that end without congress
ional aid, the Golden State isn't in
terested any further.
No Longer Has Problem.
The fact of the matter is, as has
been shown by developments of the
past six months and as is expected
to be further proved by developments
of the next six, California, together
with Oregon and Washington, which
have similar anti-land acts. no long
er has a japanese immigration prob
lem.
The barring of the Japanese from
agricultural activities in the three
states has taken care of that. The
three Pacific coast commonwealth,
particularly California, have long
been the dreamed-of goal of Nipponese
been effectually denied this goal. the
Japanese do not want to so elsewhere
in the United States.
This is proved by the efforts OF
"A other states during the last six
months to induce ousted japanese
farmers from the Pacific coast TO
take up farming within their con-
fines. Practically every offer of this
kind was investigated. Several thou
sand japanese farmers made the trip
eastward in person TO look over the
opportunities offered. But seeming
ly the outlook did not appeal to then
for all but few have returned.
They would rather be day wag,
earners on farms in California. adj
mits japanese Consul General Oyama
of San Francisco. than be farm own.
ers free of racial restrictions in
states further eastward, that boast
less favorable climates.
Cash Blocks Mexican Plan.
1t is probable that recent offers
Of the Mexican government to estab-
lish Pacific coast Orientals on farms
south of the Rio Grande will meet
with refusal. The obstacle to the
Mexican plan, states the japanese As
ISOLATION of America. is financial
one. The land offered is rich in
agricultural possibilities. but it lacks
warehouse facilities, and. equally i'm
portant, a place to market crops. To
provide these facilities and TO estab-
fish markets would cost an immense
sum of money. The Mexican govern
ment is willing to provide only the
land.
As for the Japanese already here
remaining and working as farm
hands, that is something that viii
be highly agreeable to California s
white farmers. There always has
been q dearth of farm labor in Cali
fornia. and the ousted Oriental agri-
culturists, denied the right TO farm on
their own hook, will fill long felt
want.
So far as can be learned. Califor-
mans do not consider that they have
serious problem in assimilating
the Japanese already in California.
Taking the Japanese consulate's own
estimate, there are approximately 90
600 Nipponese now here. OF these
approximately one-fourth are women,
one-fourth children. one-fourth mar
ried men and one-fourth single males.
Assimilation Cares For Itself.
The problem of assimilation is
caring for itself insofar as the chill
are foot loose and able to shift for
themselves. Many of them already
are planning to return TO Japan. or
TO take up farming activities else
where. This leaves approximately
22,J00 married men and an equal
number of married women TO be as
simulated into CALIFORNIA; economic
structure. If they are willing to
stay as farm wage earners they
probably will be readily absorbed.
In some quarters here there is a
tendency to believe that the belated
action of Congress on anti-Japanese
legislation is largely for political con-
sumption. 1t is pointed out that
when California. Oregon and Wash
ington were supplicating for federal
assistance in combating the influx
Of "little brown" farmers, Washing
ton always turned n deaf ear. Now
that three states, without any con-
gressional assistance, have established
their own effective barriers, through
anti-alien land acts, there is ten
dency to think that the long delayed
legislation will serve no useful pur-
pose.