Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-20
AS TO The CHINESE
Division Of the Administers
ton on the Question.
VIEW OF THE PRESIDENT
DECLARES Law SHOULD SPECIFY
THE EXCLUDED CLASS.
Contrary Opinion Of Sec. Metcalf-
Mobiles in the Japanese Army
Cleveland and Democrats.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.


Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
On one question at least President Roose-
welt does not seem to have much influence
with the administration, as President Lin
coin used to say. In his message TO Con-
gress, as in his recent speech at Atlanta, he
takes very liberal view of the Chinese
question, and frankly admits that grave
injustice and wrong have been done by this
nation to the people of China" He says
also that Chinese students, business and
professional men of all kinds-not only
merchants, but bankers, doctors, manufac-
turers, professors. travellers and the like
should be encouraged to come here, and be
treated precisely on the same footing that
we treat students, business men, travellers
and the like, from other nations" Then
he says, Our laws and treaties should be
framed. not so as to put these people in
the excepted classes, but to state that we
will admit all Chinese except of the coo lie
class. There would not be the least dan-
ger that any such provision would result
In any relaxation of the law about labor
ers."
That is exactly the position taken by Sir
Cheng-tung, the Chinese minister at Wash
ington, In negotiating a treaty with the
United States last winter, and because the
administration would not concede 1t the
to Picking, where it was hoped that Mr..
Rockhill might be able-to soften the hearts
of the Chinese officials, and persuade them
to consent to a definition of the classes to
be admitted instead of a definition of those
who are to be excluded. Mr.. Rockhill has
failed to accomplish this. Thes author. ties
at Picking have demanded even greater
concessions on the part of the United States
than Sir Cheng-tung. They take the ground
that our exclusion law does not apply to
the Philippines nor to the Hawaiian islands,
ana demand an open door at both of those
possessions for Chinese immigrants of all
classes Secretary Hay was quite as lib
eral as the President but Secretary Met
calf, who has the direct charge of the sub
5ect, would not yield, and the President
did not force him to do SO. Hence the ne
gotiations fell through, and it is a remark
able fact that the President, at this late
date, should sustain the Chinese contention
against his own administration in his mes
sage to Congress. 1t is also remarkable
that Secretary Metcalf, in his report still
takes the other side If you will read the
Secretary's report you will observe that
there Is an entire lack of sympathy be-
tween 1t and the message of the President
Discussing the Boycott.
Referring to the boycott of American
goods In China, the President speaks very
freely in his message and admits that 1.-THE
main factor in producing this boycott has
been the resentment felt by the students
and business people of China against the
harshness of our laws toward educated
Cinnamon of the professional and business
classes He also justifies the boycott by
saying that We cannot expect to receive
equity unless we do equity; we cannot ask
the Ch1nese to do to us what we are unable
TO do TO them" This Is exactly the posi-
ton of the Chinese government. and il is
rather strange that the President does not
secure influence enough with his own ad-
mlnlStration to carry into effect the policy
ne recommends. He takes the New England
view or the question; Secretary Metcalf
takes the California view of it; and ii is
unfortunate that the President and his Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor cannot find
some common ground.
II Is matter of extreme Importance to
the commercial interests of the United
states as well as-for the vindica ton of the
conscience of this nation that certain rec
Secretary should be adopted at once so
that agents of the immigration bureau SHAH
De stationed in China to examine Chinese
passengers before they go on board tbe
ships, instead of after their arrival