The Washington herald., 1906-12-06

JAPANESE Embassy QSTly lAfit luefe Is any
basis for the rumor. current yesterday.
that new treaty. providing for the ex-
clusion Of japanese laborers from this
country and American laborers from
Japan. is being negotiated by the two
governments.
While the rUmor persists in spite OF
these official deniaIs. it is obvious that
the facts in the case, as they exist now,
ali indicate that there is no probability,
and perhaps no possibility, of the nego-
tlation Of any such convention. In the
first place, the present controversy, from
Japan's standpoint has TO do entirely
with the violation of the treaty now in
force. 1t is unthinkable that Japan would
-, consent TO take any steps toward the
signing of a new treaty pending the set
4 uement Of this controversy.
The attitude of that country is exactly
as outlined in The Washington Herald
of Tuesday. Il desires to know II the
American government can enforce its
treaties with other nations. II the Amer
lean government thinks it can do so, the
japanese government will ask it TO go
ahead.
II the American government admits It
because to attempt anything Of the kind
would be TO invade the sacred precincts
Of States rights. the Japanese govern
ment will shrug its metaphorical should
ers and ask the world what it thinks of
such a country?
But the japanese government. If il is
still in its right mind-and il has shown
no recent evidences to the contrary-wIn
certainly not entertain the thought of
~frr~r
until the matter now at issue IS adjusted.
Court Action in Frisco
Dispatches from san Francisco yester-
day tell of the receipt Of orders there
from Washington to institute an action
in the courts to test the legality of the
State statute which provides a separate
school for children OF Mongolian parent
age It is assumed that a suit will be
fled as soon spossible. and pushed 10 its
logical end. Until this end is reached #
is difficult to see how any material
change in present conditions can be
brought about Certainly the negotiation
of new treaty, pending the settlement
OF the controversy over The existing one,
is anything but probable.
The japanese question in general. and
the Presidents recommendations concern
ing IL IN particular, were still the man
topic of discussion around the CAPITOL
yesterday. A new feature was inte-iect-
ed by the action Of Senator Flint. of cali
fornia, in introducing a resolution direct
ing Secretary Metcalf, Of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor, 10 furnish the
Senate with all Official letters telegrams
and reports Il connection with his recent
visit to sam Francisco for the purpose OF
invsstiga-ing the situation brought about
there BY the aggregation OF japanese stu
GcnIs.
There was no discussion on the resolu-
tion, which the Senate adopted without q
dissenting vote. Up 70 this time. Mr..
Metealf has had nothing 20 say regard
Ing his Investigations, although what is
believed to be the main features Of his re
port have been published
President Misunderstood.
Pacific Coast Senators and Representa-
tves were pleased yesterday on going TO
the White House to receive the instant
assurance from the President that he had
asked Congress in his message 10 give
him power TO use the army and navy to
settle the question whether the school
board Of San Francisco should admit
japanese children or not.
The President said that what he had in
tended 10 say was that If a race riot
should occur arising out OF any outrage
on the rights Of an alien he should en-
plOy the army and navy and all the power
he possessed TO QUell It,
This explanation went far to promote a
state of better feeling among the mem
bers from California, and they viii strive
TO have the Presidents attitude fully un-
derstood in their State
Mr.. McCaIFs Comment.
Practically everybody who commented
on the matter at all yesterday criticised
the President because of that part Of his
message which related to the japanese
question
The Presidents assertion Of his readi-
ness TO use the military forces Of the
United States to enforce japanese treaty
rights in this country strikes me as per-
haps the most remarkable part of his
message" said Representative Mccall, Of
Massachusetts, one of the most independ-
ent Of the Republicans in either house
and one whose opinion is always worth
listening 10. Il suppose IL well settled
that a treaty is law of the United
States, and that rights accruing under il
in this country are enfOrcible in the courts
jas in the case Of other laws. II Japanese
children have right under a treaty 10
4 attend the public schools OF California.
Z that right. beyond all question, can be
enforced in these peaceful times without
threatening 70 cOerce school teachers at
the point Of the bayonet
1T would be precisely In point for the
President to propose to put himself at the
head of an army to administer the other
laws of the United States, the Elkins and
antitrust laws for instance. And when
the guns of our battle ships shall have
battered down what the earthquake left
OF Frisco and the people, innocent and
guilty alike of that disloyal province,
shall have been put TO the sword to as
sert the right of japanese children to an
education. the tedious processes of courts
Will be done away with and we shall be
taught a new and short cut to the en-
forcement of all our laws
Even If the threat in the MESA ge
might in any case be proper in the pres
ent stage OF our national development" "
said MI Mccall. the last State against
which il could be justly leveled is that
splendid Commonwealth along the Pa
eifc. II is a piece of rhetoric for inter-
national purposes, which. however it may
be received abroad, is not likely to meet
the enthusiastic approval of the American
people"
Under State Control.
Representative Jenkins, of Wisconsin.
chairman of the House Committee on
judiciary, made the following statement:
Primarily, it might be said the entire
school question is under the absolute con-
tro1 cf tho state nv virf17a cf the poIiCa