=The Japanese on the Pacific Slope.=—Some years ago the influx of Japanese into the states of the Pacific slope gave rise to the fear that the Far West would soon have a great racial problem on its hands if this immigration were allowed to go on unchecked. One of these states, California, enacted laws designed to prevent the owning or leasing of land by Japanese and pressure was brought upon Congress with a view to having the Japanese shut out of the country altogether. In the end, through diplomatic negotiations, a “gentlemen’s agreement” was concluded between the American and Japanese governments by which the latter promised to grant no more passports enabling its citizens to emigrate to the United States, except in the case of merchants, students and others whose residence in this country would be temporary. The Japanese government has lived up to the letter of this agreement, but this has not prevented a good many Japanese coming into the United States under one subterfuge or another. The Western states are determined that their territory shall remain a “white man’s country”; on the other hand the Japanese government is not willing to agree by formal treaty to the exclusion of its own people from any other country. As a great and powerful nation, civilized and progressive, Japan feels that such a treaty would be a humiliation. So there the matter rests at present. Japanese are not forbidden to enter the United States; we are merely depending upon the informal promise of the Japanese government to keep them from coming here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE MELTING POT By Vesper L. George From a mural painting in the McClain High School, Greenfield, Ohio. From the giant steamship at the left comes a procession which includes men, women, and children of many races. Each immigrant, whether Greek or Russian, Jew or Gentile, brings some gift of art or skill to lay at the feet of America, his new motherland. The Melting Pot is not a huge cauldron into which all individuality is to be poured so that it may become a homogeneous and commonplace mass, but a crucible in which the gold of character and personality is to be discovered and refined for the enrichment of all. To the right are the sons and daughters of these immigrants. They have become successful in the trades and professions; they and their children have gained education; they are contributing their share to the wealth, government, defence, and prosperity of the nation. The picture embodies a spirit of true Americanism. [Illustration: THE MELTING POT. By Vesper L. George