Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
Sharp Difference of Opinion
Between Cabinet Officers.
TAFT AND METCALF
CONSTITUTE THE LAW In A DIF-
FERENT WAY
The Formers Views in His Ohio
Speech-The Latter's Rigid Exc
cution Of the Law.

The probability of sharp difference of
opinion in the cabinet on the question of
the Chinese exclusion laws is manifest since
the speech of Secretary Taft at Oxford.
ONO, In which he boldly took the ground
that the present law is an .'uujastly severe"
enc and its enforcement carried out with
unusual strictness.
The utterances of Secretary Taft on this
question, as we'll as on a number of others
at the same time. have not escaped atten-
ton here, and even in administra ton circles
there Is much gossip as to the courage of
the Secretary of War in becoming the
champion of a change in the present excIu-
sion laws Not only did he apparently
favor change in the laws. but his words
indlcated that he considered that the exist
ing laws are enforced with unnecessary
harshness. Sentiment in the west was de-
fed when Secretary Taft said that there
was no good ground why the Chinese should
be encouraged in a disposition to boycott
American goods and business simply be-
cause We are afraid that we may for the
time lose the approval of certain unreason-
able and extremely unpopular leaders of
California and other coast states" He con-
cludeo by speaking of the Pacific coast as
preJudiced and declared that ii ought to be
the policy of this country to extend Justice
anu courtesy to people from whom we are
deriving. and are likely to derive, such i'm
mense benefit in the way of international
trade
Coming from man who is regarded as
one OF the strongest candidates for the re-
publican nomination for the presidency i'm
liOo the words are regarded by many as
SUICIDAL, so far as the support of the coast
is concerned
Mild hammered, but Brave.
The mild and lovable disposition of Sec
rotary Taft do not betoken fear in express
sion of opinion. he is noted for out
spoken expression of views where they do
not affect the political future of any one
but himself. AS to himself he Is careless so
far as his political future is concerned AS
the adviser and confidant of President
Roosevelt he is careful and deliberate in
his expression of views and opinions, say
Ing little that might affect the administra-
ton OF his chief To so openly fly in the
face of Pacific coast opinion. at least of the
labor vote there. shows the fearIessness OF
the man.
To some of his friends who have repeat-
eddy urged him to become a presidential
candidate In 1908. Secretary Taft has ex-
planned that his desires and hopes are In
another direction, the Supreme Court of
the United States, and that he fears he
would not make a popular nominee any
way. because of his decisions at various
times hostile TO labor interests While a
United States Judge Secretary Taft was
called upon a number of times to deal with
questions in which labor issues and leaders
were involved, and he did not hesitate to
apply the law. rewardless of how strong the
labor leader was. He thinks this would
mean the opposition of the labor vote, al
though his friends do not believe this would
be the case.
A Clash With Metcalf.
Secretary Tafts speech clashes with the
pronounced anti-Chinese views of Secretary
Metcalf Of the Department of Commerce
and Labor AS member of Congress Mr..
Metcalf was instrumental in enacting the
present stringent Chinese exclusion laws,
and he is known to share the sentiment
of the Pacific coast against the presence
of the Chinaman in this country With
Secretary Taft urging milder enforcement
of the exclusion laws upon the President
and Secretary Metcalf desiring to make
their enforcement as stringent as possible,
there Is sure to be wide difference that
may lead to interesting results. 1t Is Sec
rotary Metcalf who directs the enforcement
or the existing laws, and he unhesitatingly
proclaims that they are not rigidly in
forced so far as students and merchants
are concerned. He says that the trouble
is that the Chinese resort to duplicity and
deception in claiming to belong to the class
allowed to enter, and that care is necessary.
The construction of the law is in the hands
OF the head of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor. and it is claimed by
southern cotton mill men and others who
are now seeking to have the enforcement of
the law ameliorated that Secretary Metcalf
could do much to soften the wrath of the
Chinese If he felt so disposed The inter-
probation of the law means everything at
this time to those who hope to put stop
to the Chinese threat of boycott. 1t is de-
clared that if the Department of Com
merce and Labor would instruct its off1-
cials to be more lenient in dealing with the
better class of Chinese who come h. the
movement in China for a boycott would
soon cease. whereas II seems to be on the
increase.
Secretary Metcalf has taken the position
that no relief to the Chinaman can be
expected except through act of Congress.
and he has virtually dismissed the appeal
of the manufacturers with that statement
Secretary Taft has indicated that both
Congress and the executive branch of the
department can do much to make the Chi
nese think more kindly of this country.