William D. Wheelwright

“ Having this remark in mind and considering how much of this anti-Japanese agitation is of political origin, I could not but recall the well-worn aphorism that "he who makes two ears of corn or two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind than the whole race of politicians put together." ”

“ I contend that, while they are building up their foreign commerce with marvelous ability and conspicuous success, and while, as the natural result of their love of country, they wish not only to increase its prosperity and influence, but also to impress the outside world with the art and literature of their own land, there is no evidence whatever of their desire to take part in the government of other nations. ”

“ I refuse to believe that the proprietorship by the Japanese of 28,000 acres of farm land and the cultivation by them under lease or contract of some 200,000 to 250,000 acres, out of a total of 29,000,000 acres of arable land by some 24,500 Japanese are fraught with peril to the 2,615,000 people that are estimated as making up the population of California. ”

“ I think I am safe in saying that Japan values the friendship of the United States so highly that she will make any reasonable concession to meet the views of our people. When a few years ago it appeared that a certain proposed treaty of arbitration between Great Britain and the United States was in conflict with the conditions of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, it was at Japan's request that the term's of that covenant were so modified as to permit the enactment of our treaty of arbitration. ”

“ I believe they can manage the 8,785,000 immigrants from all countries who arrived here in the first decade of this century, even though that number included 62,432 members of this dangerous Japanese race, amounting almost to threefourths of one per cent of the whole. My confidence in that capacity of theirs for selfprotection is such as to convince me that the presence in the country of some 100,000 Japanese—about one-tenth of one per cent of its population, is no menace to their safety or their well being or their complete independence. ”

“ Or is there any member of that splendid community of 8,500 souls who occupy the Hood River Valley, who is disturbed as to his own safety or that of his children or his children's children because 312 people out of the 8,500 are Japanese, and because they farm 1,697 acres out of 30,000? ”

“ And before we join in a crusade against the Japanese it behooves us to enquire whether there be just cause for either of these contentions.
In the first place, I have confidence in the power of the great American people to take care of themselves, to continue the upbuilding of a noble race of men, having behind it a mixed ancestry but containing heroic elements, and ultimately to control, by amalgamation as far as possible, by domination, and as a last resort by deportation, so far as the public safety may require, all sorts and conditions of men that come here. ”

“ And I cannot but think that the tendency of the Japanese to live their own simple industrious lives, largely in agricultural pursuits, adding to the supply of food which is so greatly needed in the world, without any ambition to govern the country, is a point in their favor as immigrants. ”

“ I visited Hood River a few weeks ago myself and saw many of the leading citizens of that place, who assured me that there was no cause of complaint of the Japanese, who were peaceful, orderly and industrious people, living in harmony with their fellow ranchmen, belonging to and marketing their products through the Association. One man said to me, "They generally prefer raw land on account of its being cheaper and turn it into productive farms, which are often for sale, and I deem them a distinct advantage to the community." ”

“ I deem them less objectionable than those unhappy people of Southeastern Europe who have had the life and character crushed out of them under ages of tyranny, so that they prefer continued existence in filth and squalor to higher standards of living, in spite of all inducements that are offered them thereto. ”

“ And supposing that present conditions are unsatisfactory to us, is it good policy to try and change them by a campaign of vilification and abuse? Wouldn't it be better to approach a friendly nation in a friendly way, and suggest a modification of existing agreements? ”

“ First, there is the reasonableness and moderation that distinguish it, while the statement that the Japanese, possessed as they are of signal "patriotism and an intense pride, justified by high intelligence and a lofty spirit, combined with the will and the ability to force recognition of their equality, brook no treatment as inferiors in the family of races" is exactly true. ”

“ It will take very powerful and drastic legislation to protect the indolent against the competition of the industrious, and the success of such legislation would mean the failure of our nation and our race. ”

“ And it goes without saying, I think, that we might better welcome the Japanese than the anarchists of Russia and contiguous countries who conspire to abolish all government and reduce the world to chaos, many of whom we are now finding it necessary to deport at risks far greater than many of us appreciate. ”

“ It is also urged that, being a prolific race, their children be denied the right of citizenship that belongs to them under the Constitution of the country in which they are born, lest they increase at such a pace as to imperil the supremacy of those who now control the country. ”

“ I think they are more to be desired than those other aliens who come here, acquire the right to vote, and then as members of communities that are hostile to the genius of our Government, pertinaciously insist that a malefactor shall sit in the Halls of Congress ”