Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-19
Jap Farmers
Driven Eastward
By Calf. Law


California law to own or lease agri-
cultural lands or to work them on q
crop sharing basis. are turning to-
ward eastern and middlewestern CEN
ters of population, local Japanese
say. California, in turn, is looking to
the east and middle west for thou
sands Of white farmers to purchase,
lease or work lands forced away from
Japanese tillers. Throughout the
state ways Of attracting farmers are
being discussed. The land offered
includes some of the richest soil in
the state.
The United States supreme court in
several recent decisions has upheld
the California alien land law. The
latest decision upholds the provision
forbidding aliens ineligible to citizen
ship from being employed on CROP
sharing contracts. This ruling is said
to have affected more than $4,000
Japanese, who until this fall were
employed on California lands under
CROP sharing contracts. Tens of
thousands of highly productive acres
were involved.
The immediate effect of the de-
cision, it was said at the Japanese
consulate and the Japanese chamber
of commerce here, was for repre-
sentatives of the Japanese to be sent
into eastern states to survey the
agricultural situation. The survey
was reported to have Indicated that
many Japanese could find profitable
employment as truck gardeners in
districts surrounding the large cities.
1t also was learned that In most of
these districts Japanese could lease
or buy land without restriction.
For years California has been wag-
ing a fight for white state" The
political fight has ended. the Japanese
have given assurance that they will
make no further effort to combat the
law. but behind it all has been left a
vast and acute economic problem of
replacing Orientals on California
farms.
The big landowners Of California
have been hit the hardest. The huge
estates have been the largest en-
ployers of japanese under leasehold
and crop sharing contracts. These
estates still can employ Japanese as
farm laborers for cash wages, but the
Japanese is declared to be not nearly
so efficient as lahorer as on crop
sharing basis. Furthermore. the Jap
anese themselves much prefer n pro-
prietary interest in their undertake
ings, now forbidden in California, but
possible in other states.
In many quarters the breaking up
and sale of big estates is forecast. If
necessary, they must be sold or
leased in small parcels to farmers
who can till the acreage by their own
resources. Often the larger farms cam
not afford to hire enough day labor
ers. ~. RE
In 1920 William D. Stephens. then
governor of California. reported to
federal authorities at Washington
that Japanese operated 45S,056 acres
of "the very best lands in California"
producing crops valued at $67, 145,730
At that time the land cultivated by
the Japanese was 16 percent OF all
the irrigated farms in the state.
Many authorities say the percentage
has increased largely in the interven-
ing years. The Japanese controlled
many of the states most valuable
agricultural products. Most of this
production now must come from
white persons employing their own
labor. Much of the produce finds it's
way into eastern markets. japanese
still own and will farm 14,769 acres
bought before the anti land
laws became effective. Corporations
owned or controlled by Japanese
have an additional $1,000 acres.
Neither the individuals nor the cor
porations can add to the present
holdings. y,
Hereafter Japanese in agricultural
pursuits may work for money, but
may not be paid in produce.
Chambers of Commerce and other
organiza lions, including Californians
Incorporated, a body devoted to FUR
nishing authentic information about
the states resources. are trying 10
solve the problems involved. CHIEF
among which is that Of procuring an
influx of white farmers.
The Stockton chamber Of commerce
reported recently that unless white
farmers could be obtained to till 40.-
600 acres in the rich San Joaquin
Valley, until lately farmed by Jap
anese these lands highly productive
in potatoes. onions and celery must
revert to barley cultivation.
In the Imperial Valley. at the
southern end of the state. the SUI
preme courts crop-sharing decision
took Japanese from $4,000 acres OF
cotton lands.
Similar situations exist in otner
fruit and vegetable districts. =.
Yet an investigating committee OF
the Stockton Realtors association re-
norted: There will be undoubtedly
curtailrnent of some few crops. but
other crops will be planted to take
their place, and so far as we can
learn no part Of these most produc-
tive lands will lie idle. The variety
of crops profitably grown on these
lands has heen largely extended In