laundry hands, 1 as a tailor, and 1 as an apprentice to a photographer. Thus of the 71, 59 were engaged in some branch of domestic service.

Besides these schools for teaching adult Japanese, most of whom are gainfully employed, there is one school designed primarily to teach children of primary and grammar school age to read and write their native language and to acquaint them with their native literature and history. However, three years ago the scope of the school was enlarged so as to interest children born in Japan and recently arrived in this country in the use of English so as to prepare them for the public schools. The tuition fee is $2 per month. The Japanese Association contributes regularly to the support of the school, as do a rather large number of Japanese men interested in educational work.

These educational institutions among the Japanese are, of course, entirely supplementary to the public schools of the city, which are open to pupils of all races. The number of Japanese children, youths, and young men attending the public schools in the spring of 1909 was 128.

Closely connected with the use of the English language is the matter of newspapers and periodicals subscribed for. These are indicative of the standard of living and culture and show the interests and source of much of the information of the Japanese. Of 77 households reporting all had at least 1 newspaper and 58 had from 2 to 10 each. All of the households had one or more (some as many as 7) papers and periodicals printed in the Japanese language, some of them published in San Francisco and other American cities, others published in Japan. In addition to these, 25, or, roughly, one-third of the households, had from 1 to 5 newspapers and periodicals printed in English and published in San Francisco and other cities. Among the subscriptions to periodicals by those investigated were 3 to the Pacific Monthly, 9 to the Literary Digest, 1 to the Independent,

a There were two of these schools, but one conducted by the Buddhist mission has been discontinued.

66

For a time during the fall term of 1906 the Japanese were refused admission to any of the public schools save the Oriental Public School, established for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean pupils. The board of education of San Francisco resolved, May 6, 1905, that the board of education is determined in its efforts to effect the establishment of separate schools for Chinese and Japanese pupils, not only for the purpose of relieving the congestion at present prevailing in our schools, but also for the higher aim that our children should not be placed in any position where their youthful impressions may be affected by associations with people of the Mongolian race." On the 11th of October, 1906, after agitation conducted by the Japanese and Korean Exclusion League for separate schools, this board further resolved "that in accordance with article 10, section 1662, of the school law of California, principals are hereby directed to send all Chinese, Japanese, or Korean children to the Oriental Public School, situated on the south side of Clay street, between Powell and Mason streets, on and after Monday, October 15, 1906." The Oriental School was located in the burnt district of the city, and many of the 93 Japanese attending school at the time of the adoption of the above resolution lived many blocks from it. The Japanese, with one exception, failed to go to the Oriental School, and the resolution was claimed to be in conflict with the treaty rights guaranteed by the Federal Government. Later the resolution was rescinded by the board of education and Japanese children admitted to such schools as they were qualified to attend. See Senate Report No. 147, Fifty-ninth Congress,

second session.

4 to Colliers' Weekly, 1 to the Outlook, and 1 to the North American Review.

The Japanese missions have already been mentioned in connection with educational institutions. Of these missions there are now fivethe Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Episcopal, and Buddhist-besides the Japanese Gospel Society. The last-mentioned institution was organized by Christian students as early as 1887. Independence of all denominations and its liberal Christian teaching and great emphasis upon educational work are as true of it now as at the time of its organization more than twenty years ago. The Methodist Mission, with a history covering twenty years, was the next to be organized, and was followed by the organization of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopal missions. The combined membership of these missions is some 700 or 800. The membership of the Methodist Mission is 306; of the Presbyterian, 325; of the Episcopal, 50. The Buddhist Mission was organized as recently as 1899. There are now 10 such missions scattered throughout California with a membership, exclusive of the wives and children of married men, of 2,350. Some 400 of these members reside in San Francisco. These Buddhist missions do not differ from the Christian missions save in religious teachings. That the Buddhist organization has made more rapid advance in securing members is explained largely by the fact that most of the Japanese were Buddhists at home. Reference has been made to the various organizations among the Japanese engaged in business and to the several missions with Japanese members only. Besides these there are several organizations, the most important of which are the Japanese Association, prefectural clubs or societies, and the Japanese Benevolent Society.

The Japanese Association was organized in 1900, at the time of the threatened outbreak of bubonic plague, when the Japanese and Chinese, being Asiatic races, were dealt with in a different manner from other races. The organization was effected to protect the "rights" of the Japanese. When the crisis due to the fear of bubonic plague ended, the Japanese organization was continued in existence because of the strong anti-Japanese movement which had sprung up in San Francisco. Upon the renewal of this agitation in 1905 the association was reorganized and extended its activity to the entire State of California. Local associations were soon organized in no fewer than 33 different places. The general nature of the association is indicated by these details relating to its organization and reorganization. Its objects as set forth in its constitution are: (1) To elevate the character of the Japanese immigrants; (2) to promote association between Japanese and Americans; (3) to promote commerce, agriculture, and other industries; and (4) to further Japanese interests. The indefiniteness of this shows the general and elastic character of the association. It interests itself in whatever concerns the Japanese. In addition to this, the association has recently received recognition from the Japanese consulate, and has become an administrative organ of the consulate in issuing certificates of various kinds and in related matters. Its members number about 400.

The prefectural societies are very numerous. Of 344 men from whom personal data were obtained 99 had membership in these or

ganizations, the societies of 27 different prefectures being represented among them. The societies indicate the strength of the local ties among the Japanese. They serve as centers of social life and give assistance to those who are in need.

The Japanese Benevolent Society was organized in 1901. Its object was to make more complete provision for the care of the sick, injured, and unfortunate than had been made by the several missions, the Japanese Association, the prefectural societies, and trade associations. During the eight years 1901 to 1908, its expenditures for the sick and for sending persons back to Japan amounted to $7,000. This does not indicate the importance of its work, however, for in its methods it is more a charity organization than relief society. One of the more important branches of its work lies in securing reduced rates from the steamship companies for those who are sick or in need in order that they may return to Japan. As a result of the efforts of this society and of the other institutions to which reference has been made, no Japanese become public charges in San Francisco.

CHAPTER III.

JAPANESE IN CITY EMPLOYMENTS AND BUSINESS IN LOS

ANGELES.

[For General Tables, see pp. 361-372.]

INTRODUCTION.

A few Japanese came to Los Angeles about 1885. These men had served as cooks on a sailing vessel, and, leaving the ship at San Diego, drifted north to Los Angeles, where they opened a restaurant. With this as a beginning, the Japanese population of the city increased slowly until about ten years ago. There has been no direct steamship connection with Japan, and it was only a little more than ten years ago that Japanese were employed in large numbers by the railroad companies with terminals at Los Anegeles, first as section hands and then as laborers in the shops. The members of the race did not become conspicuous as farmers and agricultural laborers in the southern part of the State until some six or seven years ago. With the influx of laborers to engage in such occupations as those mentioned, however, the number of Japanese who have settled in Los Angeles and the number and variety of business establishments conducted by them have rapidly increased. According to the best-informed Japanese, the number of persons of their race in Los Angeles in 1897 was about 500. According to the Japanese-American Yearbook for 1905, the number in December, 1904, was 3,358. Of these, 3,178 were adults males, 144 were married women, while 36 were children. In 1906 the number greatly increased as a result of the San Francisco fire, which caused many to leave San Francisco and settle in other places, principally in Los Angeles.

The number of Japanese in the city at the close of that year has been estimated as in excess of 6,000. During 1907 and 1908, however, the number decreased. Some returned to Japan and others found business unprofitable and sought employment elsewhere. The total number residing in the city in December, 1908, was estimated by the secretary of the Japanese Association of Los Angeles at 4,457. Of these, 3,925 were adult males, 427 adult females, and 105 children under 16 years of age. It would appear that the number of adult males had increased somewhat between 1904 and 1908, and that the number of women and children had increased almost threefold. These figures are for the settled population. There have been as many as 20,000 Japanese in southern California, and during those seasons when many are unemployed they have come to Los Angeles in large numbers, the lodging houses being crowded with transient

a According to the Census for 1900 (Population, pt. 1, p. 798), however, the number of foreign-born Japanese in Los Angeles was only 152. There is good reason to believe that the actual number was in excess of that reported.