HINDUS IN AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 4

HINDUS IN AMERICA.

"Turn' back the Hindu invasion," do* mands a San Francisco ■ newspaper,apropos of the recent arrival here, in' one shiplead of 191 natives of British India (says thp correspondent of, the Melbourne "Age"). Hindus have been coming into' California in large numbers during tlio last, two or three years, previous to which they were somewhat of a curiosity in this part of the world. Californians, as a people, are almost as restless and uneasy under,, the fear of an Oriental influx as are Australians, , arid the arrival of 191 natives of India in one ship started an agitation forthe exclusion of all members of the : race. ; The Hindus are being, held : in; quarantine; pending instructions from Washington, but in the absence of an. 'exclusion law, there seems nothing else to do but admit those of them that are healthy. . ' : .'.':. Tlie only alien exclusion law on the statute books of'the United State's, is directed' against, the Chinese, although under an arrangement with the Mikado Japanese coolies are virtuallly excluded. California' papers are demanding that Congress pass a law shutting, the door against Hindus. It is being argued .is ono reason in: favour of such-a law that it is a direct insult to China and Janan to raise obstructions to. iho entrance of natives of those countries, and yet to freely admit Hindus, "who are far worse from all standpoints." Every liner across the Pacific within the last year or so has brought from- a score to a hundred Indian natives. Many of them step off at Honolulu, but afterwards come on to .the mainland. They were brought here first by the railroads, who demanded cheap, unskilful labour for construction work. - Canadian railroad builders introduced many of the. aliens, but-, the rigorous winters of the north drove them south to California'. By far the greater number' of Hindus in the United States are now in California. There is an economical reason which, would seem to preclude the probability of the dark-skinned men being introduced into this country in hordes. Even in fino weather they are said to be indifferent workers, and when tlio weather turns cold t-hoy lie down and shiver, often succumbing to the climate. ' But even in these circumstances against their introduction there aro believed to be about 10,000 Hindus in California. Me most work on the railroads, so-mo have found employment in the fields. Investigation has beea made .-to discover whether the Hindus came here under contract, but no evi dence of that has becu obtained. "We do not know why these people have been induced to come to California," says the San ■Francisco "CaE." "Wo can understand that certain powerful influences, which desire to'introduce tlio cheapest kind of labour, may have been brought to bear; but, now that public attention has been directed' -to the influx, it may be hoped that some, means may be found -to check it. The Hindus aro not wanted in California. They are not wanted in aay part'of tha United States., It is a. cruel kindness to bring these unfortunate people ia this country. We hav-e morQ- AfsSrfjoq 'now than is destrabW- ~