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Greek immigrants faced prejudices a century ago Aug 28, 2015 12:00 AM A A Again a disreputable person is called a "Greek" in the Aug. 20 "Mail Tribune 100." I have seen this term used repeatedly in that column. Were these people really of Greek origin, or was that just a term for a criminal element? I've asked several of the speakers at the library's monthly history presentations, and they didn't have any idea of what I was talking about. Do you? — Marilyn, via email "Greek" wasn't some sort of slang term or derogatory word, but many Greeks emigrated to the United States about this time a century ago, and faced prejudices once they arrived. According to an Oregon Encyclopedia article, about 195,000 people left Greece for the United States in the early 1900s — about 1.5 percent of that country's population. Reasons were lack of land and job opportunities, crop failures, and to escape heavy taxation and the dowry system. Most of the first Greeks to arrive were illiterate, and had the highest illiteracy rate of any immigrant group at the time. The MT's stories 100 years ago likely can't paint a complete picture of Greek immigrants' contributions to the Rogue Valley, but many immigrants were crime suspects, as you've noted. Articles noted suspects of Greek descent involved in petty gambling crimes, "statutory charges" and "white slavery" rings. Medford police officer Harry Cingcade was particularly candid about his prejudices to the March 15, 1911, Medford Sun newspaper, found thanks to a helpful Southern Oregon Historical Society volunteer. This quote came after officer Cingcade broke up a fight involving several black suspects over a craps game near a Greek-owned pool hall on Fir Street: "These Greeks and others of their kind are beginning to swarm into the region and take the jobs of men who have families to support and who need the work, some of them needing it badly," Cingcade said. About the same time, general anti-foreign labor sentiments were brewing in the valley, from the formation to the anti-immigrant Central Labor Council in May 1911, and this anecdote found in our archives. The April 23, 1911, Mail Tribune notes that Clark & Henery Construction Company foreman Tom McHale forced Italian and Greek immigrants off the gravel pit at gunpoint, until the company's materials boss secured the weapon and discharged the boss. "The company states that they favor the employment of white labor, but cannot afford to discharge the Greeks when they have no whites to put in their places," the Mail Tribune wrote. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.