The Anti-Asian Campaign in Spokane
The American Legion in Spokane launches an investigation into the vegetable trade, claiming 'Oriental control' of the local market.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Believing that the vegetable produce industry in Spokane is under the control of the Japanese, the Spokane post of the American Legion decided to conduct an investigation. According to members of the local post, complaints are pouring in constantly about the oriental control of the market.
“Believing that the vegetable produce industry in Spokane is under the control of the Japanese, the Spokane post of the American Legion decided to conduct an investigation.”
This report captures the era's organized xenophobia, which sought to exclude Asian Americans from the economic life of Washington cities through pressure campaigns and institutional bias.
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