anti-Japanese association had been formed, and the Hood River Post of the American Legion had lent its influence toward prohibiting Japa nese immigration to the United States. The American Legion Post carried the issue to the state convention, and the latter obtained endorsement of the principle at their national meeting in Minneapolis. This was the beginning of a movement which resulted in Congressional action prohibiting Japanese immigration.
Of late the anti-Japanese ownership laws of Oregon have been much nullified, because Japanese children, born in the United States and guaranteed citizenship by the Federal Constitution, have acquired land under white guardianship. Thus Japanese today successfully own land in Oregon and till it with profit since they are expert gardeners and orchardists.
The proportion of negroes to whites in Oregon was greatest in 1850. being then 1.6 per cent. The 1930 total of 2,234 negroes in the state is only O.2 per cent of the inhabitants. In the pre-Civil War era negroes were brought to Oregon by wealthy southern immigrants in such large numbers that in June 1844, a law was enacted declaring all persons brought into the country as slaves must be removed in three years 01 become free. In 1857 tne State Constitution provided that no free negroes might enter Oregon. This law was, however, more honored in the breach than in the observance, and has long been a dead letter.
Of Oregon's 2,234 negroes, more than half live in Portland, in a colony, for the most part, on the east bank of the Willamette. The men are chiefly employed as railroad porters. They have several churches of their own, as well as lodges and other organizations.
