OLYMPIA BRINGS JAPANESE

More than 600 Come From Honolulu for Great Northern Line.

Bringing 610 Japanese for the Great Northern Railroad, the steamship Olympia arrived in port last night from Honolulu. The Orientals went ashore this morning and will work in both Eastern and Western Washington under the division superintendents.

When the Olympia arrived an effort was made to prevent the Japanese from landing, as it was believed by representatives of the Western Central Labor Union that it was a violation of the alien contract labor law. Such was not the case, however, as the laborers were brought from an American port.

The Olympia's passengers are Japanese who for a number of years past have been working on the sugar plantations. Higher wages was one of the inducements which led them to come to the United States. It is understood that the big planters on the islands made efforts to hold the Japanese, but when they found they could come to the states they immediately gave up their positions. Agents visited the plantations and secured the men.

The arrival of the Olympia with such a large number of Japanese at first excited suspicion. Many laboring people believed the men were coming to take positions in this city other than railroad work, and the union took up the matter. Immigration officials were aware that the law was not being violated and took no action whatever.