The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-04
JAPAN QUESTION DISCUSSED.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DEEPLY
INTERESTED IN 1T.
Representative Kahn OF San Francisco
Says the People Of Caiifornia VIII
Work Out the Problem Alone and
Satisfactorily n Allowed to DO So.

satisfactorily n Allowed to DO So.
WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-Japan was the
paramount question discussed by members
OF the House this morning as they gathered
upon the floor prior TO the opening and
exchanged congratulations and regrets.
Members OF the California delegation were
pressed by their associates for an analysis
OF the situation, the possibilities Of a solu-
ton OF the vexed question and the proba-
bilties in the event Of a failure of the Adj
ministration to induce the California au-
thorities to take such action a. will placate
the Japanese,
The best thing that can be lone to bring
about a settlement Of the matter" said
Representative Kahn, who represents one
OF the San Francisco districts, lis to stop
the agitation. Our California people will
work out the problem alone and satisfac-
torily II they are permitted to do so. There
are several phases Of the situation which
people in the East do not thoroughly UNDER
stand. 1t is a race question, and there is no
use trying TO get around that fact, and
there Is more to II than the school question.
After the fire we were sorely pressed for
school room TO accommodate the children.
Imagine, then, the resentment which our
people naturally felt when they found the
little nes crowded out by full grown
Japanese men occupying the places Of boys
and girls of s and 10 years of age. Naturally
the school board took action to segregate
them. IL is probable that little would have
been heard of the matter even then had
II not been for the fact that the japanese
newspapers, of which there are six or eight
in San Francisco, had not taken up the
matter and made a roar. They are OF the
yellow. variety, most Of them. and they
started the agitation and It was their action
W hich aroused the Japanese at home.
Again, the people of San Francisco
found this situation confronting them after
the fire. Houses were at a premium. Ten
ants who had been paying $50 a month for
a residence In the best part OF the city
found themselves driven from home by
japanese, who came in and offered two
and three times as much rent as the white
people had been paying or were able to
pay. Handsome residences they turned
into immense Japanese boarding and lodg-
ing houses, with sixty, seventy and a nun
dred tenants. These japanese boarding
houses established themselves in the best
part Of town and drove out the white resi-
dents, who were naturally indignant.
Again, the influx of Japanese since the
fire has been at the rate OF 900 a month.
They see business opportunities in the
up-building OF the city, and the tendency
by this large increase in japanese popula-
ton is to drive out the whites, for reasons
which are apparent. Altogether these
conditions nave produced a race feeling
which the people of San Francisco are seek
ing to curb.
MY own opinion il that the affair will
in a short time adjust itself, if we are left
alone. Intelligent Japanese realize that
we have the right to enact laws for our
own protection. the same as they have
in their own country, and if the popular
clamor can be hushed there will be no
trouble"
Mr.. Kahn does not believe there will be
any action on the japanese question in
Congress. There will be a meeting of the
California delegation in a few DAYS, and
the members will act as a unit in whatever
decision is reached regarding their course
upon the subject If il is to be considered
by Congress.
Representative Sherley Of Kentucky intro
duced a bill to-day which if il is enacted
into a law may assist in settling the Japa-
nese trouble in San Francisco and similar
questions. The measure seeks to give
the Federal courts jurisdiction over cases
where treaty rights are involved. 1t pro-
vides that If two or more persons conspire
to injure, Cypress, threaten or intimidate
any person in the free exercise or ENJOYMENT
OF any right secured to him by the Constitu-
ton or by laws of the United States, or
because OF his having exercised them,
they shall be fined not more than SIS 900 or
imprisoned not more han ten years.
This provision il a modification OF the
revised statutes relating to conspiracy
against ANY citizen" by the substitution
of the words amy person." which extends
the protection of the statute to foreigners
living in the United States. It is asserted
that the effect OF such a measure would be
to a out OF the State courts many cases
involving the rights of foreigners.