The Toledo Incident of 1925: a civil rights triumph for Issei laborers in America

By Raymond Douglas Chong, Historian

One century ago, on July 12, 1925, in Toledo, Oregon, a mob of White rioters expelled Issei (pioneers from Japan) laborers and others from a sawmill. In the aftermath of the first civil rights lawsuit, the jury of a federal district court in Portland deemed Issei laborers to have the right to live and work in America. It was the civil rights triumph in the American federal court of law.

Oriental Discrimination

From 1849 to 1965, the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, and Sikhs endured the first era of anti-Asian sentiment (hatred) in America in the face of Oriental discrimination. The White hierarchy applied the systematic discrimination tools of discrimination, scapegoating, intimidation, appropriation, segregation, exclusion, and dehumanization. In Oregon, they crudely targeted them.

After the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 by Congress, the White employers needed a new labor force to replace the Chinese laborers. From Imperial Japan, contractors hired Issei to labor in the railroads, fisheries, farms, mines, and sawmills. Several became merchants in the cities and towns and farm owners in the countryside. However, they were segregated to live in enclaves apart from the Whites.

In Oregon, during the era of the Anti-Asian sentiment, several violent incidents occurred.

• On February 22, 1886, a White mob, mostly Knights of Labor and Anti-Collie League, forcibly expelled the Chinese sawmill laborers in Oregon City. Similar pogroms also occurred in East Portland, Albina, Mount Tabor, and Guild’s Lake. The Whites dynamited and bombed several Chinese laundries.
• On May 27-28, 1887, a gang of seven White horse thieves ambushed and murdered thirty-four Chinese gold miners in Hells Canyon along the Snake River. They were never jailed.
• On March 21, 1910, a White mob attacked the Sikhs laboring at a sawmill in St. Johns. The Whites forcibly expelled them to leave by train to Portland.

The Issei in Oregon faced various forms of discrimination before 1925, including restrictions on land ownership, exclusion from political life, and difficulties in finding employment. The Oregon state legislature enacted the 1923 Alien Land Law that barred Japanese immigrants from owning land. Alien Business Restriction Law approved denying business licenses to first-generation Japanese Americans. The American Constitution prohibited the naturalization of Issei, which prevented their involvement in politics. They were denied access to domestic work and gardening. They were excluded from labor unions. In Oregonian society, they were discriminated against and segregated in ghettos.

Toledo Incident

The Toledo Incident was a White mob attack on Japanese, Filipino and Korean laborers at a sawmill in Toledo, Oregon, on July 12, 1925. They violently expelled them.

On the Oregon central coast, along the Yaquina River, Toledo was the industrial hub of Lincoln County. Pacific Spruce Corporation (PSC) operated a spruce sawmill under the business name of C.D. Johnson Lumber Company. PSC decided to hire a Japanese contract crew to sort lumber. The Issei were considered “cheap labor” which resulted in resentment from White laborers. The Lincoln County Protection League campaigned to prevent Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, African Americans, and Indian laborers from entering Toledo.

By train, the 22 Japanese laborers, as well as four Filipinos and one Korean, arrived in Toledo on July 10, 1925, sawmill supervisors welcomed them to Toledo. They were placed in the contract labor housing along the Tokyo Slough.

On July 12, 1925, a mob of White rioters violently expelled twenty-two Japanese laborers (including two wives and three children), four Filipinos, and one Korean. The Whites violently herded into cars and trucks. The White wildly drove to the train depot in Corvallis for their rides to Portland. The Police Department arrested five White men.

The Japanese Association of Oregon (JAO) filed a civil rights lawsuit with the District Court of the United States for the District of Oregon in Portland against the White perpetrators. They hired the law firm of McCamant and Thompson. Daiichi Takeoka, a non-certified lawyer, advised the JAO. The five plaintiffs were Tamakichi Ogura, Ichiro Kawamoto, Mrs. Ito Kawamoto, Matsuto Tsubokawa, and Youjiro Mitani. The lead lawsuit for Tamakichi Ogura accused nine White defendants of violating his fundamental civil rights. Before the trial, three of them vanished.

On July 12, 1926, Judge Charles Edwin Wolverton presided over the first trial for Tamakichi Ogura. Plaintiffs, witnesses, and defendants testified during the nine days of trial. On July 23, 1926, the 12-man jury unanimously ruled the six defendants guilty of civil rights violations, awarding $2,500 in damages plus court costs to Tamakichi Ogura. The other four civil lawsuits were settled out of court on October 1, 1926.

The New York Times reported that: The right of Japanese residents in the United States to work where and when they will, and under whatever conditions may please them, has been established by the action of the United States District Court for Oregon.

Historical Contexts

The staff of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) in Portland addressed the historical contexts of the Toledo Incident, one century later.

Chong: What is the significance of the Toledo Incident?

JAMO: The Toledo Incident occurred on July 12, 1925. In the four years leading up to this event, nine states, including Oregon, had enacted “alien land laws” that specifically targeted immigrants from Japan. These laws represented a growing effort to restrict the ability of Japanese immigrants to work and their status in the country. They also conflicted with the 1911 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the U.S. and Japan, which guaranteed Japanese immigrants the most constant protection and security of their person and property and ensured they would enjoy the same rights and privileges as native citizens.

The Incident itself involved local residents of Toledo attacking and forcibly removing a group of Japanese, Filipino, and Korean immigrants who had moved there to work at a local sawmill. In the aftermath, the Japanese laborers filed a civil suit against their attackers.

The case was initiated by five Japanese laborers who accused nine Toledo residents involved in the Incident of assault, intimidation, trespassing, breaking and entering, theft, and forced removal. These actions were viewed as violations of the rights of the Japanese laborers.

This case was remarkable because it featured legal immigrants, those who had established residency and work history, challenging discrimination in a court of law and ultimately winning.

Chong: Why was the civil case so extraordinary in America?

JAMO: Many viewed the case as a confirmation of the rights of Japanese immigrants. The plaintiffs’ attorney, W. Lair Thompson, was quoted in The Oregonian on July 24, 1926, as saying It was a victory for law and order. It will be welcomed by law-abiding citizens everywhere.

An article in the Oregon Journal on July 25, 1926, stated, The Japanese Plaintiffs and other Orientals who followed Ogura’s suit in its two weeks of trial appeared highly pleased with the verdict. It completely upheld their rights in country as outlined in the treaty between the United States and Japan.

Chong: In 1925, describe significant civil rights barriers in Oregon society that the Issei faced.

JAMO: Due to U.S. naturalization laws at the time, Issei were not allowed to become naturalized citizens. Many residents of Oregon perceived them as both an economic and cultural threat.

However, the 1911 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the U.S. and Japan did outline the rights of Japanese immigrants in Article 1.

The citizens or subjects of each of the high contracting parties shall receive, in the territories of the other, the most constant protection and security for their persons and property and shall enjoy in this respect the same rights and privileges as are or may be granted to native citizens or subjects, on their submitting themselves to the conditions imposed upon the native citizens or subjects.

In 1923, the Oregon state legislature enacted an Alien Land Law that prohibited Issei from owning or leasing land.

Chong: What was the involvement of the Japanese Association of Oregon?

JAMO: The Japanese Association of Oregon was established in 1911 to provide legal and financial assistance, as well as social and educational services, to the Japanese community. It served as a vital link between immigrants and the Japanese consulate.

On July 24, 1925, The Oregonian published a statement from Iwao Oyama, Secretary of the Japanese Association of Oregon. He reported that after the Pacific Spruce Corporation decided to hire Japanese laborers, the City of Toledo enacted a regulation against hiring foreign laborers. Members of the Association’s employment bureau visited Toledo and successfully had the regulation revoked.

Iwao Oyama further stated that reports claiming no violence occurred when the laborers were forced out of town were false. He indicated that the Japanese laborers were treated roughly and were not given time to gather their personal belongings.

For our part, nothing is more deplorable than this unhappy Incident. We rely on Governor Pierce and the righteous spirit of Toledo officials, and the humane feeling and sound, common sense of its people. Not only for the sake of the ousted Japanese but also for civilized humanity, and we hope the question will lead to a happy solution.

Chong: What was the critical role of Daiichi Takeoka, a non-certified lawyer, during the trial?

JAMO: Mr. Takeoka graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1912. However, he could not become a licensed attorney because he was not a citizen; naturalization laws at that time prevented immigrants from Japan from obtaining citizenship. Mr. Takeoka served as an interpreter and legal advisor for the Japanese Association of Oregon, eventually becoming the director of its industry division in 1922 and later the organization’s president.

Four other laborers had filed civil lawsuits against the Toledo mob and Mr. Ogura. Mr. Takeoka signed affidavits confirming their residency, as they were employed in logging camps and could not attend the trial. Mr. Ogura’s case was successful, and out-of-court settlements were reached in the other four cases.

It is important to note that the trial was held in Portland rather than Toledo, where it was believed the plaintiffs would receive a fairer hearing.

Chong: Why has the memory of the Toledo Incident been lost in history?

JAMO: Most Americans’ understanding of Japanese American history is primarily focused on the World War II incarceration. While this period is highly significant, little is known or taught about the earlier immigration, settlement, contributions, struggles, and successes of Japanese Americans. In Oregon, the history of immigration, growth, and challenges is often examined and taught from a Western migration perspective.

Chong: How has the Japanese American Museum of Oregon perpetuated the memory of the Toledo Incident within the Oregon community?

JAMO: The Incident and trial are mentioned in the museum’s permanent exhibit, and docents and museum staff are available to provide further explanations to visitors. Additionally, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon contributed to a video about the Toledo Incident for the Lincoln County Historical Society’s Ebb and Flow series.

Retrospection

In 2005, Ted Cox wrote The Toledo Incident of 1925. Why did an angry mob expel Japanese resident workers from an Oregon mill town in 1925? What happened in the days leading up to this event, on the day itself and in the resulting precedent-setting civil rights suit brought by these Japanese workers? The story within these pages reveals all the facts surrounding the event that has come to be known as the Toledo Incident.

Twenty years after its publication, in 2025, Ted W. Cox mused:

To clarify, the trial awarded $2,500 plus additional fees, totaling around $7,000. This trial was based on a claim for $25,000 plus fees. To prevent the occurrence of three more trials— each seeking $25,000, and one for $30,000 — the defendants agreed to pay $2,500 along with the $7,000 in fees. This payment was to be made immediately, and it was agreed that if the Issei returned to Toledo in the future, they would not face harassment. This agreement was hoped to establish a standard allowing the Issei to work in the industry without facing discrimination. However, they were never invited back.

The introduction of my book includes a couple of pages highlighting various sawmills in Oregon that employed Issei labor without any known racial issues at the time. These laborers were able to work peacefully. Additionally, the book notes that during the war in November 1918, the Army brought in a crew of 25 Issei laborers to operate a small sawmill in Toledo for a brief period, with no objections.

Although Pacific Spruce claimed the Issei were temporary laborers, they would be the first to be dismissed and would only be allowed to live on company property. The 600 mill laborers were assured their jobs would not be jeopardized; the unrest stemmed from a small group of conservative town figures who viewed the sawmill as the source of problems. When the sawmill opened in 1922, the town’s population was roughly 600. The sawmill attracted more than 1,900 people in just two years, newcomers from all over the USA who were loyal to the sawmill. Ultimately, it was just a few old-timers who caused all the trouble.

When examining the Asian experience in America, early immigrants are often portrayed as victims of discrimination. However, what is less acknowledged is the numerous instances in which they actively advocated for their civil rights, demonstrating resilience and serving as agents of change rather than merely suffering from injustice. One example of their legal success is the outcome of the Toledo Incident civil trial in 1926. – Ted W. Cox

For Pacific Northwest Quarterly 69:3 (July, 1978), Stefan Tanaka, wrote about The Toledo Incident:  The Deportation of the Nikkei from an Oregon Mill Town.  He positively concluded: In the end, the Japanese, though shaken by the Toledo experience, were satisfied that they were able to win a legal battle against white antagonists. In contrast, the townspeople were bitter about losing the court battle, yet they found some solace in the fact that the Nikkei were out of Toledo.

In 2019, Dr. Emily Rose Johns, for her thesis with Pacific University, wrote: The Toledo Incident: The Interchange of Anti-Japanese Sentiment Between Oregon Metropolitan and Rural Newspapers. Her thesis concluded: Ultimately, the Toledo Incident divided the urban and rural press, and highlighted the freedom urban newspapers had once the Ku Klux Klan’s power had declined in Portland. Analyzing these three newspapers provide a bigger picture of the changes that occurred in the urban and rural communities in Oregon between 1923-1925. While it was not the end of racism against the Japanese in Portland, this moment was a gasp of air for the Japanese Issei before the start of World War II. Oregon’s anti-Japanese past is a black mark on local history. However, it should be looked at today as a lesson for us all, as fear of immigration continues to be an issue. Hopefully, the Toledo Incident can stand as a reminder for Oregonians about the power of these fears, and provide a better understanding of how to move forward without hate or anger.

Dr. Linda Tamura, professor of education emerita at Willamette University, a Sansei from Hood River Valley, described the plight of the Japanese timber laborers during a webinar.

She remarked:

After Ted Cox’s book, *The Toledo Incident of 1925*, the author claimed that this event was “undoubtedly a small step forward for minority civil rights in America”. A year after a mob forced Japanese sawmill laborers out of town, Tamakichi Ogura—one of those laborers—filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Oregon. The jury unanimously ruled in his favor, affirming the “right of Japanese residents in the United States to work where and when they will.”

So, one hundred years later, how have we progressed in ensuring our rights? In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enforced the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, resulting in the incarceration of over 125,000 individuals of Japanese descent, including nearly 70% who were American citizens by birth. In his 1990 letter of apology to these former incarcerees, President George H. W. Bush stated, “…We can never fully right the wrongs of the past. But we can take a clear stand for justice…”

Yet today, we continue to witness rising xenophobia and discriminatory acts against individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or abilities. Currently, our government has threatened to use that same Alien Enemies Act to detain and remove immigrants solely based on their national origin.

Close

On July 23, 1926, the Issei laborers achieved the first American civil rights triumph to live and work in America. But sadly now in Oregon, no events will commemorate the Toledo Incident of 1925 nor honor Tamakichi Ogura, the lead plaintiff, and its trial aftermath on American civil rights.

What lessons have we learned from this history? Are we ensuring that all voices are represented and heard as we create pathways for our future? Are we advocating for and ensuring due process for those whose rights are in jeopardy? How can we become allies for those being victimized? And are we truly honoring the “liberty and justice for all” that we—and our youth—pledge allegiance to daily as we salute our country’s Stars and Stripes? We have much to reflect on as we move forward— and there is much at stake. – Dr. Linda Tamura