RAYDA REED AND JAP SWEETHEART WED AT TACOMA

Kunio Toda Obtains License and Rev. A. Takahashi, Who Accompanies Them There, Performs Ceremony.

MAN'S FATHER MAY NOT RECOGNIZE WHITE WIFE

Rayda Reed, an American girl, daughter of a well-to-do Mormon Utah farmer, living in Salt Lake, and Kunio Toda, her Japanese lover, who were refused a marriage license in Seattle yesterday, were married this morning by a Japanese minister in Tacoma, after having been granted a license to wed by County Auditor W.A. Stewart, of Pierce County. The ceremony was performed by Rev. A. Takahashi, of Tacoma, who had accompanied the pair to the Pierce County courthouse.

On the ground that Seattle was being made notorious as a haven of refuge for unnaturally mated couples, who were unable to wed elsewhere, King County Auditor Otto F. Case yesterday refused to issue a license to Toda and his wife sweetheart. He further stated that he would investigate the case and unless compelled to by law would not alter his decision.

Toda sought a well-known firm of lawyers yesterday in order to try and force Case to issue the license, but after looking into the case, the firm refused to accept it.

Toda and his bride were sheltered in the Fujii Hotel, a Japanese rooming house, at 423 Maynard Avenue, where every precaution was taken to prevent their whereabouts being known. To escape publicity the couple fled to Tacoma last night, after deciding to give up the attempt to force Case to issue a license.

The night was spent in Tacoma and as soon as the door of the marriage license clerk opened this morning, they presented themselves, accompanied by Rev. Takahashi, and obtained a license without the slightest difficulty.

May Not Recognize Wife.

It is the intention of the couple to take the next steamship for Japan, where they intend to visit Toda's father, a wealthy Japanese wine merchant of Tokyo. Japanese residents of Seattle, who are familiar with the case, stated today that Toda probably was taking his bride to Japan to see if she would be recognized by his father. It appears that Japanese parents are, as a rule, unwilling to have their sons marry white girls and oppose unions whenever possible.

If the Japanese father refuses to greet the bride when she comes to him with her husband, she loses her standing as a wife. Among those of the younger generation, these mixed marriages are looked on in a different light and the Japanese who is the possessor of a white wife is the envy of his wife is the envy of his yellow brethren. There have been several cases of Japanese of no little standing in their own country, whose American brides have been rejected by Japanese parents, among these being a Japanese consul in England, who after wedding an English girl, was forced to divorce her, because his father did not sanction the match.

Whether Toda's father will object to the marriage of the Reed girl to his son is not known, as the old man has not yet been informed of the match.

Wanted Pair Jailed.

In passing through Oakland, en route for Seattle from Salt Lake by way of Los Angeles, the pair were taken in charge of the police and were detained there for two days, while the case was being investigated. On being informed of conditions by the Oakland police, the girl's father, James Reed, stated he was unable to oppose the match, as the girl is of age, but he desired that the pair be jailed if it would be in accordance with the law.

When informed of the nature of her father's telegram, the Reed girl denied that her father had opposed the match and stated that he had said he would be only too glad to be rid of her.

Toda is a rancher and became acquainted with the Reed girl at a time when he owned a ranch in Utah adjoining her father's farm. The Japanese is 27 years old, while the girl is nine years his junior. The personal beauty of the yellow man can scarcely be accredited as responsible for the white girl's infatuation with him. He is shorter than the average Japanese, very dark, and his features are unusually irregular. The girl herself is tall, dark-haired and handsome. She is intelligent looking and has the fresh, clear complexion of a country girl.

Girl Madly Infatuated.

That she is madly infatuated with Toda is certain. When the pair were released from jail in Oakland she threw herself into Toda's arms in the presence of a room full of spectators, embracing him and covering his face with fervent kisses. When informed yesterday by Marriage License Clerk Gates that she could not procure a license in Seattle she appeared heartbroken and was restrained in an expression of her emotion only by her companion, Toda. In order to avoid exciting comment when on the streets of Seattle yesterday, Toda walked fifteen feet in front of his bride-to-be, carrying their suit cases. Toda objects to having the girl show her affection for him in public and restrains her when she attempts to do so.

The Mormon girl has adopted many Japanese customs and, in return, her husband has agreed to reject the faith of his father and accept Christianity. The credit for his conversation is taken by the Reed girl, who says she has taught him a broad, general sort of Christian belief, not limited by sect or creed. She is trying to learn the Japanese language and already has acquired the rudiments.

Think Jap Ideal Husband.

She is firm in her belief that Japanese men make better husbands than the Americans and is certain that Toda will always treat her kindly and affectionately.

After visiting Toda's father in Tokio, they intend to return to this country and will live on a chiken [chicken] ranch in the vicinity of Los Angeles, which Toda has purchased. He is thrifty and is reported among his countrymen to be a man of means.

Nothing further has been learned today concerning Tsunejiro Tanaka, a Japanese, and Edythe Rolemyer, a white girl, who also were refused a marriage license yesterday, shortly after Toda had been turned away. Up until noon today, no application for a license had been made in Tacoma by the pair, who are now believed to be on their way to Victoria.