PART V.

Political and Social Aspects of Japanese

Immigrants

Innumerable, indeed, are the charges brought out by anti-
Japanese agitators against Japanese immigrants. Among these
the most conspicuous and persistent is that of non-assimilation.
We will not refute this bogie. We will simply present facts
relative to the actual progress the Japanese have made toward
assimilation, and then let readers decide whether or not they
possess the capacity for assimilation.

First, as to their literacy. The table below shows the per-
centage of the Japanese who can speak English, by economic
groups,, and by industry, and by years in the United States: *

WAGE-EARNERS

Per Cent Who Speak English

 

Tndustey aoe by Years in United States
Complete

Data Under 5 5 to9 10 or over| Total
Apriculture ..:..2)sdaen sess! 6,041 58.8 72.5 84.4 65.8
Fish canneries................. 458 79.4 80.5 84.8 80.3
Fruit-vegetable canneries 201 51.1 66.7 63.2 55.7
Wsaunnd ries 23.22 ecee det eases 161 85.0 93.2, 90.0 87.6
Bamber Was. |. ccc gence. 333 38.8 55.1 73.3 49.2
Mining, coal cccsescunnce 447 44.7 54.2 57.8 50.3
SMELT y, 2-<.2-eeer eeeeece 63 18.4 40.0 60.0 28.6
Transportation:

Steam railroads—
Maintenance of way

and construction........ 1,135 44.7 55.5 61.8 49.2
Shops, bridges and

buildings, water and

signal service ........... 628 37.0 62.3 75.0 46.8
Electric railways......... 102 50.0 76.0 100.0 58.8
Miscellaneous ................. ATT 83.8 85.7 96.1 86.2
PGA 244. Wie eetaae 10,846 58.1 70.7 82.6 64.7

IN BUSINESS FOR SELF

 

PSPC 15 cack cosdaeck 847 85.9 : J
Miscellaneous ................. 458 95.0 97.1 99.3 97.4

98.6 94.8

1 Immigration Commission, Reports, vol, 23, pp. 146-147.

44

POUAL fear, Aceh ss ewehate 1,350 38.4 96.4