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 PROPOSED 
 ANTI- ORIENTAL 
 LEGISLATION 
 
 MI 
 
 FAIR 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 CHRISTIAN 
 
We, the Standing Committee of American Work- 
 ers among Orientals in the United States, represent- 
 ing the various Protestant Boards and Agencies, 
 note with deep regret the present hysterical anti- 
 Japanese agitation, which appears to us to be with- 
 out sufficient foundation. 
 
 We recognize that the program proposed by the 
 Anti-Japanese League and others is far-reaching, 
 and must ultimately include not only Japanese but 
 all other Orientals in this country, and will vitally 
 affect our future relations with them and with the 
 countries from which they come. 
 
 As this question concerns not only the Pacific 
 Coast but a large portion of the world, it demands 
 the earnest consideration of all Americans. 
 
 The proposed measures to which we take excep- 
 tions are as follows: 
 
 Cancellation of the Gentlemen's Agreement. 
 Rigorous exclusion of Japanese as immigrants. 
 Exclusion of picture brides. 
 
 Confirmation and legalization of the policy that 
 Asiatics shall be forever barred from American 
 citizenship. 
 
 Amendment to Section 1 of Article 14 of the Fed- 
 eral Constitution providing that no child born 
 in the United States of foreign parents shall be 
 considered an American citizen unless both par- 
 ents are of a race that is eligible to citizenship. 
 
 To provide such labor as may be necessary for the 
 development and prosperity of the country and 
 which can not be had here or secured from desir- 
 able immigration, it ■ has also been proposed to 
 bring in Chinese laborers for a fixed term of 
 -ears, confining their activities to certain 
 localities and certain industries so that they 
 can not offer an economic menace to American 
 labor, and to send them back to China when 
 their term of service has ended. 
 
 In the light of the proposed program we maintain 
 that the adverse criticism of the Gentlemen's Agree- 
 ment between Japan and the United States is with- 
 out foundation, as official reports of the United 
 States government will show. 
 
 I1II1III!II!I!I1IIIII!IIIIIIII!I!IIIIII!IIIM 
 
There has been no substantial increase in adult 
 Japanese population in continental United States 
 since the Gentlemen's Agreement was entered into 
 in 1907. The figures usually published show arrivals 
 only and neither take account of departures nor 
 of the decrease due to deaths. 
 
 We are not in favor of a wide open-door immi- 
 gration policy, believing strongly that immigra- 
 tion should be restricted by the elevation of the 
 standard of admission, which policy should be uni- 
 versal in its application. We recognize that there 
 are serious economic reasons for regulating immi- 
 gration on the part of our government, but such 
 laws should be made in all fairness and without 
 racial discrimination. 
 
 The question of so-called picture brides needs 
 no discussion, as the Japanese Government has 
 already abolished the practice upon the recommen- 
 dation of the Japanese on the Pacific Coast. The 
 proposition to confirm and legalize the policy that 
 American citizenship shall be forever denied to 
 Asiatics, and especially providing that no child born 
 in the United States of foreign parents shall be 
 entitled to American citizenship unless both parents 
 are of a race eligible to citizenship, is open to the 
 severest criticism, being un-democratic, un-American, 
 and un-Christian. 
 
 Our long experience in connection with the 
 Orientals in the United States convinces us that 
 their children born in America, are intelligent, 
 moral, and liberty-loving, and are in every sense 
 worthy of the privilege of citizenship. 
 
 The proposition that Chinese coolies be imported 
 for a term of years and then sent back implies 
 contract labor and a species of slavery abhorrent 
 to American ideals which should not even be 
 considered. 
 
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As Americans we protest against a leadership 
 which is actuated by narrow and selfish motives. A 
 question which is so complex and far reaching should 
 be settled only after the most careful consideration 
 and in harmony with Christian principles. 
 
 At this time when human liberty is at stake every- 
 where, and when the civilization of the Twentieth 
 Century itself is threatened, it behooves America not 
 to take a backward step in Democracy, nor permit a 
 small minority of -her people to jeopardize the high- 
 est interests of the Republic and the World. 
 
 * 
 
 Action of the Standing Committee of American 
 Workers among Orientals, representing the Protestant 
 Mission Boards and other Christian Societies on the 
 Pacific Coast. 
 
 Charles R, Shepherd, Supt. of Oriental Missions of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 M. D. Clubh, Supt. of Oriental Missions of the Chris- 
 tian Church. 
 
 George W. Hinman, Supt. of Oriental Mission of the 
 Congregational Church. 
 
 Levi Gregory of the Friends Church. 
 
 H. B. Johnson, Supt. of Japanese Missions of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 George Pearson, Supt. of_ Chinese Missions of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Rev. and Mrs. William Acton, Supts. of Oriental Mis- 
 sions of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
 
 E. A, Sturge, Supt. of Japanese Missions of the Pres- 
 byterian Church. 
 
 Mrs. P. H. Eaughlin, Supt. of the Chinese Missions of 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 John R. Titsworth, Secy, of Oriental "Work of the Y. 
 M. C. A. 
 
 Myrth B. Mills, Executive Chinese Center, Interna- 
 tional Institute Y. W. C. A. 
 
 Sarah Ellis, Immigration Dept. Pacific Coast Field 
 Committee Y. W. C. A. 
 
 Milton S. Vail, President of the Anglo-Japanese School. 
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