JAP FARMERS ARE CARRYING GUNS

Councilman Conway Says Conditions Are Such in White River Valley That They Should Be Investigated.

BROWN MEN COULD CUT OFF SEATTLE'S WATER

T. Tanaka, Nipponese Counsul, Declares That Gardeners Have No Warlike Intentions, and Explains Why.

Why are all the Japanese farmers in the White River Valley armed with rifles?

Why do they keep signal lights burning from their cabins all night long?

Why are they making such determined efforts to get possession of every ranch between this city and Tacoma?

The foregoing are some of the questions that are agitating James Conway of the First Ward, who has become acquainted with conditions in the farming communities to the south through his friend, Robert Bridges, former land commissioner of this state, who owns a ranch at Orillia and who, Conway says, has been observing the actions of the Nipponese carefully.

Water Supply in Danger.

"Every one of those Japanese farmers, seemingly so quiet, carries a rifle," said Conway this morning. "They are shooting everything in sight. They are even killing off all the meadowlarks, which are such sweet singers. Perhaps they want them for food. Perhaps they simply want to get some rifle practice to be prepared in case war breaks out between this country and Japan.

"Just think for a moment how a few hundred of those Japs, thoroughly organized, could play havoc with a great city like Seattle in event of war. They are so situation down there that they can cut off our supply of water and light from Cedar Lake without the least trouble, and corral thousands of cattle and pigs with which to feed a hostile army. I believe it is a situation well worthy of serious investigation."

Farmers are Peaceful.

When asked about the matter this morning, T. Tanaka, Japanese consul in this city, said:

"I think the facts as reported are much exaggerated. I am positive that the Japanese gardeners in the White River Valley have no warlike intentions. Neither has Japan for that matter. There are not more than fifty or sixty Japanese in the valley.

"If the Japanese and American ranchers down there understood each other's language I believe all suspicion would quickly be dispelled. Possibly the Japanese are holding meetings, but with no other purpose, I am sure, than for sociability or to discuss crop conditions. They may carry guns, also, but for perfectly legitimate reasons. I go hunting once in awhile myself. The Japanese gardeners are very peaceable, like farming people the world over."