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About The Northman. (Portland, Or.) 1920-192? | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1920)
Volume 1________10c ____________ Portland, Oregon, May 27,1920_________ $3 g&Sg&o._______ Number 5 JHiuiitiiitiiiiiiitiiiiuiiiiiiiiMiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiumiiminiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiintiiiiiiiimiiituiiiiuitiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiuiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiimiH Move lo Halt Japanese Aggression äiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimimijiiiiimiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiii'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiim^ IF THE FIRST SHIP which brought 1 Africans to this country had been turned back, and the blackman excluded, as he should have been, this nation would have been spared the great self-inflicted wound of the Civil War, from which it is still suffering after a lapse of more than half a century. The black race has not amalgamated with the white any more than has the red. No more will the yellow, or the brown race. If this is to be a white man’s country, it is time to turn back the hordes of Asiatics swarming into every American port, and ship out the thousands that have illegally wormed themselves in. This is a time of returning to first principles, and a time for taking observa tions of the true lines of advance and planting monuments to preserve the course. With all due courtesy to the last of the autocracies Japan must be in formed that her people are not welcome in this country. On the Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico the slogan is being sounded. In California an initiative measure has been prepared by the California Oriental Ex clusion League, and petitions <yvill be cir culated at once for signatures to place the measure on the ballot at the next general election. REFERENDUM IN CALIFORNIA. The measure is designed to restrict property holding by “non-assimilable” races and specifies that all aliens subject to citizenship may possess the same rights for purchase, lease and sale of property that is accorded to citizens “except as otherwise provided by the laws of the state.” Other aliens “may acquire, possess, en joy and transfer real property in the manner and to the extent and for the pur poses prescribed by any treaty now exist ing between the government of the United States and the nation of which such alien is a citizen, and not otherwise.” The same conditions are made to apply to ownership of stock in any company, association or organization. Aliens not eligible to citizenship would be prevented by another section of the act from acting as guardian for the estate of a minor where the property is of such nature that it could not be held personally in the name of the guardian. The term “trustee” is carefully defined and provision is made for annual reports from persons acting as guardians for the ASIATIC EXCLUSION LEAGUE NOW PREPARING MEASURE TO SUB MIT TO REFERENDUM. SIMILAR MOVEMENT TAKING FORM IN OREGON, IDAHO AND WASHINGTON. property of minors whose parents are not, eligible to citizenship. Property acquired in violation of the provision of this measure shall escheat to the state and conspiracy to violate the act is punishable by imprisonment not ex ceeding two years or a fine not exceeding $5000 or both. JAPANESE OWN SEATTLE HOTELS. It is a well known fact that Japan has failed to keep the “gentlemen’s agree ment.” Japanese have been flowing into this country in a steady volume from the north and from the south, and until very recently, were soon followed by their “picture brides.” It is reported from Seattle that every hotel in the city is owned by Japanese and in California they have invaded the‘country as well as city, steadily driving out the white farmer. DESCHUTES FARMERS READY TO FIGHT. From Deschutes county, in this state, come reports of imminent clash between the Japanese and American farmers who have been opposing Neponese invasion for several months. F. E. Pellett, a farmer in the Terrebone district, a few days ago informed the Commercial Club of Bend that there would be need of cof fins . and work for the coroner in the Northern part of the county soon if the Japanese do not depart. In an appeal to the commercial club to take action Mr. Pellett stated that the farmers of the Ter rebonne district have absolute proof that a gunman is being retained on Burtt’s lower bridge holdings to protect the Japanese from violence. Pellett stated that the farmers of the north end of the county intend to take some immediate action to rid Central Oregon of the Orien tals and to take a decided stand against the American citizens who are instrumen tal in their importation on the lands in this part of the state. The fight against Japanese invasion dates back to last fall, when George L. Burt and George Shima, the potato king of Sacramento, purchased a large acreage of land in Deschutes and Crook counties. Since that time the farm bureau has been fighting single handed the attempt to en courage Japanese labor in the Deschutes river valley in fear of future ownership or leasing. The Bend Commercial club has gone on record against alien land ownership and will help the farmers to meet the issue. THE ISSUE IN SEATTLE. The issue is being met in Seattle by the American Legion which took cognizance of an article signed by a prominent Pres byterian pastor who flayed opponents of the Japanese as “mere prejudiced agita tors un-American in sentiment.” It is not yet known whether that church sup ports its pastor, but it will be given op portunity to go on record. It is time for the pro-Japanese element in this country to be forced into the open. The Japanese do not come to this country because they are oppressed politi cally or because they are persecuted for religious beliefs. It cannot be plead that this country furnishes an asylum and a protection from oppression. There are those who advocate the repeal of laws dis criminating against nationalities so as to remove the “present causes of animosity from, the Japanese, Chinese and others.” They say it will do American labor little harm if the immigration commission is controlled by or in sympathy with labor. Such action would not only betray labor, but betray the entire country. What is wanted of the Japanese and Chinese? Do they believe they will raise the standard of American citizenship by flooding the country with these peoples? Certainly not. Will the result be any thing but to lower that standard ? Again, certainly not. Can it then be said that patriotism animates such advocates? It is patent that they are serving an un principled and unworthy cause. In this connection one publication ad vocating the open door for the Chinese and Japanese says, ”If the farmers and- work ers vote' themselves into control of the administration in November, this feature would be certain not to interfere with the interests of American labor.” This is from The Golden Age, “A Journal of Hope and Conviction” published in New York. “The Golden Age” is well named, and it is full of conviction—self conviction. It is manifestly a helot of the gold worshippers to whom country has no meaning or con sideration. In what way can these peoples improve conditions in this country? What prin ciple is being violated in barring them out ? This principle the people of this country must adopt, and the sooner the better: America for such people only as can be come Americans! ■■■■■■■I