Japan and the California Problem

nese population of 70,196 in California, 38,000 belong to the farming classes including those who are su

at the climate and soil of California are especially suited to the kinds of farming in which the Japanese are skilled-su

nese Agricultur

as early as 1887-1888. Since that time the number of Japanese farm laborers has steadily increased. They have distributed themselves widely in the lower Sacramento, San Joaquin River, Marysville, and Suisun districts. Later man

abor, since the former involved risk and responsibility. Yet because of the incalculable pleasure which independence brings, because of the ease with which leases could be obtained, and because of t

698 acres, which were operated by Japanese. The number steadily increased during the following ten years. According to the census of 1910 they operated 1816 farms, covering 99,254 acres of land. At present it is r

nd value of the crops turned out by them every year are considered. Governor Stephens, in his letter to

of the Japanese farms. Approximately, 80 per cent. of the tomato crop of the State is produced by Japanese;

rt of the let

ced by them-our figures show that as against $6,235,856 worth of produce ma

of Pr

a form of tenancy which prevails in California. That is, the landowner advances the required sum of money to a tenant, offers him tools and shelter, and in return receives rent from the sale of the crops. This is a modified form of crop contract, but it is decidedly more secure for the owner, because he assumes less ris

cases in which the Japanese provoked the hatred of landowners by not observing promises or failing to carry out contracts, on the who

retained. This habit of intensive cultivation and the minute care of the soil, which are really inseparable, are maintained by the Japanese farmers when they undertake agriculture in California. Furthermore, it so happens that the climate and soil of California are especially suited for intensive cultivation. Such products as vegetables and berries, which

more per acre than the other farmers. The Japanese-American Year Book of 1918 has th

say, the value of the product turned out per acre was about $42. Japanese cultivated 390,000 acres and produced $55,000,000 worth of farm products, or $141

"raw" land of California into productive farm land accounts for their prosperity in s

se Far

alifornia farmers and to the State of California. In considering this question, it

decreases. When the seasonal work is over in a locality, the men seek other jobs in other localities. There is work for them throughout the year, since the climatic conditions of California are such that some crop is raised in some p

tled homes, go to any place where wages are high. The convenience which the farmers receive from this rapid supply of necessary labor is immense, since the crops handled by the Japanese are perishables demanding

armer from the care of overseeing the work, of arranging the wages with the workers, and of taking other troubles. Although this system has given rise to many regrettable complications through the occasional failure of the Japanese to obse

ursery work, which require manual dexterity, quick action, and stooping over or squatting, are singularly suited to the Japanese. No other race, save possibly the Chinese, can compete with the Japanese in this sort of field labor. With their training in intensive

riticism of them is that they do not observe contracts or promises. This question was very ably discu

years more care has been taken to understand all of the conditions of the contract entered into, and the charges of breach of contract have become much fewer. Another source of misunderstanding has been that some of the Japanese, who think more in personal terms and less in terms of contract than the Americans, have sought to secure a

rs received by the State Board of Control of California to questionnaires sent out by it (one of which was, "Give wage comparisons, with notes on living conditions,") to the County Horticultu

tural Association of California, gives the following fig

vest. Afte

, $4 per day with meals.

$3.50 per day with meal

er day with meals. $3

cannot be taken as a sure measure for estimating the higher or lower standard of living. The diet of the Japanese farmer is different in kind from that of the American; but it will be rash to conclude that the Japanese standard of living is thereby lower than that of the American. As a rule, the Japanese feed and dress well. There is perhaps no more liberal spender than a Japanese youth. His weakness lies rather in taking too much delight in making display than in taking to heart the qualities

ded. They are irascible, unstable, complaining, unsubmissive. These are inborn

are engaged in farm work they are not displacing white labor, and only in a few counties where fruits are the chief products do they appear to displace white labor to any extent.[34] The truth is that the supply of Japanese farm labor has been diminishing no

n certain communities to a marked degree. The total number of such laborers has decrea

ese F

ms, covering 99,254 acres; but in 1919 they cultivated 6000 farms, embracing 458,056 acres. The value of the annual farm products also jumped from $6,235

e farmers is envisaged with serious apprehension. The first

te ideals-that is to say, the employment of their wives and their very children in the

n acres. The contrast is due to the difference both in the method of cultivation and in the crops raised by white and Japanese farmers. The crops cultivated exclusively by white farmers are such as corn, fruit, nuts, hay, and grain, which require extensive farming and the employment of machines and elaborate instruments. The Japane

ized by the Japanese are newly introduced kinds, total crop values of which are small, a very limited amount of acreage being used for their cultivation. This being the case, it is clearly misleading to represent the Japanese farmers as "crushing compe

lf. On many of the Japanese farms it is frequently the custom to have a day off during the week instead of on Sunday for the purpose of going to town to shop or to go visiting. It is true that the women and children are often found working in the fields with the men, but this is due to the fact that in inten

ertain that at the present time the sharp competition has not yet commenced on account of the clear division of labor established between the Japanese and whit

nder Japanese control are usually good lands, but they were not so invariably at the time of purchase. As a matter of fact, most of the lands which Japanese have secured were at first either untillable or of the poorest quality, and only by dint of patient toil have they been converted into productive soil. Many thrilling stories are told of the hardship and perseverance of Japanese farmers, who have after failure on failure succeeded in their enterprise. They have indeed reclaimed swamps and rehabilitated many neglected orchards and ranches. Whatever may be the nature of the land owned by Japanese, however, its amount is truly

erican blood, California would have no reason to oppose their progress in agriculture. But they are a distinct people who amalgamate with difficulty, if at all. Were they allowed unhindered development in agriculture, in which their success has been most marked, in the opinion of the exclusionists, they would multiply tremendously in num

t of the accompanying report, or any action which the people of the State of California may take thereon, you will understand that it is based entirely on

ulture is not to be determined by a consideration of the amount of land they cultivate or the comparative wages they r

ien Lan

suffice on the issue of the anti-alien land laws. The land law of 1913, which was enacted in spite of strong opposi

etween the United States and the country of which he is a subject. This provision takes advantage of the fact that in the Treaty of Commerce an

nt protection and security for their persons and property, and shall enjoy in this respect the same rights and privileges as are or may be

p cannot lease land for agricultural pu

ineligible to citizenship, or of which a majority of the issued capital stock is owne

of the provisions of this act shall escheat to, and

in the names of those of their children who are citizens of this country. Moreover, they resorted

w land law more carefully framed. The new law naturally aims to correct the de

se home government has no treaty with the United S

cquire shares of stock in any company, associa

f the estate of a minor which consists of property which t

tion of the provisions of this act by aliens shall esche

ohibiting the Japanese from buying or selling land in the names of their children or through the medium of corpo

admits that "the annual output of agricultural products of Japanese consists of food products practically indispensable to the State's daily supply," and adds that their sudden removal is not wise.[42] If, on the other hand, the law fails-and that there is abundant possibility of it the sponsors of the law themselves admit-critics in

ting to the Japanese people, but it will not prevent them from occupying lands for agricultural purposes

bterfuge, which it is not possible for the State to counteract. And California has no lack of lawye

mple of foreigners not being allowed to own land. If Japan does not permit the ownership of land by Americans, they argue, by what right do the Japanese demand the privilege in America? This apparently does not hit the point since i

aws of

are three ways in which foreigne

ll of the lessee. The rent of such leased property is liable to a review by t

olonial areas, running for any number of years. Many such titles now current run for 999 years. T

s, formed under the commercial code of Japan, and are regarded just as truly Japanese legal persons as though composed solely of Ja

passed a land law which embodied, a

therein shall enjoy the right of ownership in land, provided always that in the countries to w

ying the right of ownership in land in the following districts: First, Hokkaido;

pable of enjoying the right of ownership in land, the ownership of such land shall accrue

he present law into force shall be

embodying more liberal principles and omitting all features in the law of 1910 considered objectionable by foreigners. Unfortunately the Lower House was suddenly dissolved by the deadlock encountered on the issue of universal suffrage before the proposed law was voted on. The Jap

the Initia

all and the amount of land-holding is simply negligible, the only explanation for the proposal is the influence of California, which has been deliberately strengthened by the direct appeal of Governor Stephens to other States for co?peration. In this

that it infringes on the Japanese-American Treaty of 1911, by running counter to the spirit of fairness pervading the document in withholding from Japanese aliens the rights and privileges enjoyed by aliens of other nationalities. Or it may be the intention of the Washington and Tokyo Governments to reach a mutual agreement by concluding a new treaty which will specifically state the rights to be conferred upon each other's subjects, so that subterfuge will no longer be possibl

al or diplomatic arrangements. We are of the opinion, therefore, that the surest way of removing the difficulty is to study the causes that constitute the present California unrest and endeavor to eliminate them so f