Rangeley High School - Tattler Yearbook (Rangeley, ME)

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THE T and the Imperial Valley of tl1e southern border. These sections have a soil of almost incredible fertility, yielding several large crops of berries and vegetables each year. VVith such land as this, by working at all hours, and living cheaply, they easily out- did their white neighbors. Japanese women came flocking in. The married japanese sent for their wives. The unmar- ried contracted marriages by proxy with some 'girl in japan, after having exchanged photographs. japanese population gained as much by birth as by immigration. In 1019 the total number of births was 4,378 If the present birth ratio continued, there would be in 1020, 150,000 japanese children, horn in California, to -l-0,000 white children. And in N140 the majority of the population of California would be japanese, ruling the State. Such is the present status of the Japanese question in California, and this is only one phase of a world problem-that of the contact of races, widely different in blood, traditions and living standards. The Gentlemen's agreement was con- cluded by us'in the hope of stopping the influx of japanese without wounding their feelings. Thirteen years have passed and it has not proved a success. The immigra- tion is still increased and shows signs of increasing still further. For twenty years this has been a constant source of irritation on Japanese-American relations. Now a prompt and definite set- tlement is imperative. Irlalf-measures are worse than useless. Only one settlement is actually feasible, and that is the stopping of japanese immigration. Let us consider the relative positions, concerning the World VVar, of the U. S. and Japan, which is a most striking one. During the lfVorld VVar our country spent -10 billions of dollarsg japan spent E250 millions. The U. S. lost 100,000 meng Japan lost 300 men. A TTLER H In return for its expenditures the U. S. demands no advantages of any kind, japan gets China's richest province, a large num- ber of islands north of the equator, and the Island of Yap, in the Pacific. Perhaps nothing could better illustrate the dominating traits of the two nations than does this comparison. Most Ameri- cans believe that japan used the VVorld War to strengthen her position with China. The cession to japan of all the German islands north of the equator is, from a naval point of view, a most serious thing for the U. S. If japan establishes naval bases in the Caroline, Marshall and Ladrone Islands, she will cut communica- tions between the United States and the Philippines. Unless this country should establish a fleet, more powerful than the japanese, in Manila, Japan would have no didiculty in capturing the Philippines and Guam. Our nearest base, Hawaii, would be more than 3000 miles away, and we would have the utmost difficulty in regain- ing our Pacihc possessions. Still, though the average American may not have the tfriendly feeling for the Japanese, as in the days of the Russo-Japanese war, there is no real hgstility in this country. The attitude is one of a distrustful curiosity. just what does Japan wish to do? Probably Japan realizes that the path which Germany trod is not the safest course, and that she can- not afford to antagonize mankind. But any possible causes of friction between the two countries should be removed, and japanese immigration is the chief one. VVe should take immediate steps to prevent this menace from affecting, even in a remote way, the greatness of America's future. R. Earl Parks, '2I. CLASS PROPHECY HAT a calm, clear,. beautiful night this is! I-Iow much it reminds me of a night in India! Why, how long ago it seems since I went to Dar El Baida, the old crystal gazer, and sought to learn many things from this mysterious crystal globe!

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10 THE TATTLER to undeveloped opportunities in home, school, college, or throughout the land. You can begin, now, to make yourself what every American should be, a vital part of the machinery of the American gov- ernment. You can do more. You can cre- ate a tradition ot public service. Public service that is clean, uncorrupted, and given for love of country, and not for greed of gain. If there is to be a tradition ofpublic service in this country it is up to you girls and boys to make the beginning. True, it must start as a spark, but once started, will kindle in the hearts of all to a flaming fire. If you are to be true Americans, then show it by letting this country waste no more of its opportunities. If you live for the highest interests of America, at the same time you live for tl1e highest interests of the world. So wake up, boys and girls, for you are the Hope of the VVorld! It is to you that the world looks to achieve greater things than ever before since Time began, to create a higher, nobler standard of civiliza- tion, and to extend that civilization to all the farthermost corners of the earth, that all men may feel its influence. X Eyes front! young America. Take up thy banner, Responsibility, and Forward March! You are the HOPE OF THE WORLD. Olive Moore, '2I. ORATION The Japanese Menace HE only remaining possible foe of the United States, according to the world situation, is japan. The most friendly observer must admit that our rela- tions have changed. In 1916 the so-called Gentlemen's agreement seemed to have definitely settled the problem of Japanese immigration. It is now all too apparent that it has not done so. The antagonisms between the japanese and the citizens of the Pacific Coast are much more strained now than then. California has passed laws against the holding of property by japanese that have made the situation more acute. Yet the japanese question in California is only one phase of a world problem-the relations of the white and non-white races. If the japanese should be permitted to emigrate at will to the Pacific Coast, Cali- fornia would soon have a great population of proud, aggressive, intelligent, industri- ous japanese and these people would al- ways have the protection of a powerful and warlike nation. And California's problem would soon become a widespread one throughout the United States. The Gentlemen's agreement has neither satisfied the citizens of the Pacific Coast nor the experts of the Immigration Bureau. In becoming a party to it, the U. S. snr- rendered the right to determine what per- sons from Japan should be admitted, and what should not. This was a grave mis- take. No nation should be placed in a position where foreigners can enter without showing that they are fit to become inmates. The dissatisfaction on the Pacific Coast resulted in the States of Wasliiiigtoii, Ari- zona and California passing laws, prohibit- ing aliens who are ineligible to citizenship from owning land, and limiting the leases of agricultural lands to three years. At first the sisted of male women. They native bosses, as railway section hands and agricultural laborers on big fruit ranches and truck farms, or going into mines, lumber mills and canneries. But as time passed, the japanese turned more and more to land, and, not as day laborers, but on their own responsibility. They literally rushed into farming, especially into the fruit and vegetable lines. They picked out the most fertile districts, the richest agri- cultural lands in California. These are the fertile, irrigated portions of the Central Valley, watered by the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and the highly devel- oped, irrigated regions around Los Angeles, Japanese immigrants con- laborers, with few or no worked in gangs under

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12 THE TATTLER I never shall forget how, when he had finished, he put it in my hand, saying, Ponper to see is yours. How reverently he held the precious stone as he told me that none but a pure virgin of youth could hope to have its secrets revealed! Then he muttered that queer old prayer in Hin- dustani and began telling me how I could read the future. I have studied the crystal very carefully but not till tonight has aught been revealed to me. ' As I gaze down into the clear, dizzying depths, I see Olive Moore, the Salutatorian of our class, who, having graduated from Farmington Normal, has become more am- bitious and is now receiving a degree from Bates College. The glass is changing and now I see her going to Kingfield as a French teacher. I wonder why she has chosen this little tow11 for the scene of her life work. Oh, now that I think of it, I remember that she became greatly inter- ested in K' French at the time the class went to Kingfield to play basketball. Somehow her speaking so often of French puzzled me at the time, but now I understand why it was uppermost in her thoughts. Kingfield is the home of uF1'CI1Cl1u. And now she seems to be deeply interested in a Debating Club. This does not surprise me any, for Olive always did love to talk. As I turn my eyes again to the crystal globe, I see a very clear picture of some- one who is quite stout, bending over a spot- lessly white bed. Upon studying the pic- ture more closely, I recognize Kathleen Stewart. How solicitous she seems to be as she goes from one cot to another, ten- derly caring for the sick ones! Why, the picture is changing! I cannot quite under- .stand this sudden change ..... Oh, QI see! She is married to this young doc- -tor, and this is his private hospital in New York. Things are happening so fast that I can hardly follow them. This seems to be an immense building in Washington ..... A young man enters and walks directly to a platform ..... The room seems to be crowded. Now the people are eagerly listening to the speaker. i1Vhy! I am almost convinced that it is Dau Pillsbury. Well, well! Dan, of all people, speaking! Why, I remember that he hated to face an audience so badly that he would think of all sorts of excuses to escape it. Yet here he is, talking to 'this great crowd of people. Now there seems to be a cloud over the globe. There! It is clearing away. Oh, another scene showing Dan receiving his diploma at the University of Maine. There, it is fading. VVell, well! Will wonders never cease? If here isn't Dan at his farm, and there is his wife, and I suppose those six children are theirs ..... What can this be? How shocking? Oh, this is Leora Tomlinson, and she is playing the part of the heroine in a New York theatre. I am not surprised, for I remem- ber how she used to pore over .I3aker's catalogue of plays, and the dramas she studied during our I-Iigh School lite. She grows tired of this work, however, and now I see her in a schoolroom, training and teaching the young. She wears a pin with the letters F. S. N. S., which tells me that she graduated from Farmington Normal School. As I watch the glass, I see our Class President, Everdeene Robbins, graduating from Newton Hospital in Massachusetts. But how changed she is! Instead of her much-loved uniform of High School days, she now appears in the garb of a competent nurse. Now the picture changes, showing flaming red, and I see the japanese uni- form, and-Oh-my own United States, drawn up in battle. Now at the right there appears a large base hospital, with the huge red cross in front. The picture changes, and I see the ward in this vast building, and oh, there 's Ever- deene in Red Cross uniform, bending over a wounded soldier. So sl1e has enlisted her services, and is fighting for the lives of the wounded soldiers.