POWERFUL LABOR ORGANIZATION PLANNED BY SEATTLE JAPANESE

Revolutionary Move Designed to Eliminate Existing Racial Prejudice on Coast

LITTLE BROWN MEN WILL COPY A.F.L. SYSTEM

Union Designed to Obtain for Orientals Wages That Whites Receive for Same Class of Work.

SEATTLE MINISTER LEADING MOVEMENT

Believed That Success Will Mean End to Bitter Controversies Such as Those Arising in California.

Seeking the elimination of ill feeling between Japanese and white residents of the Pacific Coast and taking the first step for the bettering of living conditions among the little brown men. Rev. Sydney Strong, pastor of Queen Anne Congregational church, and Charles T. Takahashi of the Oriental Trading Company, are planning the formation of a Japanese labor union patterned in every detail after those patterned in every detail after those affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.

A proposition is to be made to the Central Labor Council of Seattle in the immediate future looking toward discussion of the acceptance of Japanese labor on the rolls of the unions, with the distinct understanding that every effort will be made to bring into the fold every Japanese who works for wages in Seattle and eventually in the entire state.

It is further declared that, should the labor council be opposed to the admission of Japanese into the ranks of organized labor, a Japanese labor union or association will be formed, for the purpose of demanding the same wages for Japanese as are paid whites, and that the higher wage scale will be rigidly adhered to.

Scope of Movement Broad.

The effect of this movement is so remarkable as to be startling in its scope. If the movement spreads it means that the chief bone of contention between whites and Japanese in all coast cities and particularly in California where indignation has arisen to fever heat, will be done away with.

It has been declared by Californians that the Japanese are slowly but surely crushing the California rancher and fruit grower by undermining white labor through providing Japanese at a far lower wage than whites can toil for.

With a Japanese labor union, or a series of them, approximating those of the American Federation of Labor, or with such unions actually a portion of the federation, there would be no conflict as to wages and the only problem would be one of providing sufficient work for all.

That Takahashi and Dr. Strong are working night and day on the proposition is an assured fact, though neither is willing to do more than confirm the rumor that such is their plan.

Series of Conferences Held.

It is known also that Dr. Strong and Takahashi conferred on the matter yesterday, and that later in the day Dr. Strong and E.B. Ault, editor of The Union Record, had an extended conference concerning the same topic and that further conferences have been arranged for.

It also is declared by those thoroughly in touch with the situation that much of the pioneer work in the movement has been done by the Seattle minister, aided by the work of Dr. Sidney Gulick, returned Japanese missionary, who has been in frequent conferences at the White House while in Washington, D.C., concerning Japanese matters and American policies both here and in Japan.

"The matter is under discussion," said Dr. Strong last night when pressed for information, "but it is not for me to talk of at this time. I am interested in raising the standard of living of the Japanese and anything I can do toward this end will be done cheerfully, and with gratitude for the opportunity."