The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-14
4FRATS" BAR JAP STUDENTS
State 'U' Men Don't Want Little
Brown Men.
ORIEh1llS HAVE NO ENTREE
QUESTIONS OF ELIGIBILITY DO
NOT COME UP EXCEPT
IN THE WEST.
0RIEATAls HAVE NO ENTReE

SEATTLE, Dec. 14.-Greek letter
fraternities at the University Of Wash
ington will not admit Japanese stu
dents to membership and discrimina-
ton against the little brown college
men, in that respect, is growing
steadily throughout the United States.
No Japanese has ever been admitted
by any of the secret societies of the
state university here and they never
will be, according to vigorous state
ments made by prominent members of
the fraternities. Many of these socie-
ties have provisions in their consti-
tutions excluding any but members of
the white race, while the others that
have at times initiated Japanese, have
determined not to do so in the future.
The Phi Delta Theta fraternity
in convention assembled in Washington
city, recently discussed the question
informally, in the light of the senti-
ments in President Roosevelt's mes
sage. Professor Arthur Raglan Priest,
dean of the college of liberal arts, who
attended the convention, returning
to the campus yesterday, says that no
definite action was taken, but that
there seemed to be a strong sentiment
against making frat brothers" of
the Japanese. The delegates were
divided on the subject, however, sew
eral championing the cause of the
brown men vigorously. Phi Delta
Theta now has three Japanese men,
bers in it's active chapters in the
east. 1t is understood that there was
some lobby talk about dropping these
members, but Professor Priest says
that if there was an serious inten-
lions of so doing, the instigators in
the movement did not make their in
tentions known to him.
While the feeling toward the Jap
anese by the majority of the students
at the University of Washington is,
for the most part, cordial, the fraterni-
ty men would never think of admitting
any to brotherhood with them. This
fact is attested by the statements of
number of fraternity men, prom
inent in their chapters. The feeling
against granting citizenship to the
Orientals is strong, much less initial
ing them into the Greek mysteries.
S. A. e. Wants Only Caucasians.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is one of the
national fraternities that does not
admit the Japanese to membership.
The race is not specified in the consti-
tuition az undesirable, but a rule ex
lists to the effect that only Caucassians
of the Christian religion are eligible.
Beta Theta Pi has no constitution
ing to a member at the university,
but there are only about three men,
bers of the race belonging to it's vari-
Gus chapters. The issue has never
been raised in a convention Of the
fraternity, it is said. Japanese adj
mitted to any Of the national college
secret societies, have affiliated as
honorary, rather than as active men,
bers, and, in the majority OF cases,
they have been admitted because OF
extraordinary academic achievements.
"The fraternities nationally have
never been confronted with this ques-
ton seriously" a leading fraternity
man at the U. Of w. today said. In
the eastern and southern institutions
there have been so few Japanese that
A.. hoC q
one. In forming their rules, they never
thought of the brown man and the
question scarcely has been discussed
In the west, however, there are many
Japanese and the national fraternity
bodies soon will have to take cog
nizance of the fact and act one way
or the other. In view of the presl-
dents plea for citizenship for them,
1 think the conventions in the future
surely will act on the matter.
Sentiment Becoming Adverse.
while the frats do not in so many
words exclude the brown men, there
is a tacit understanding generally, that
such persons are not to be rusheO'
except under unusual conditions. do
not look upon it in the light OF a dls-
elimination The collegians are not
hostile to the Orientals, but they SIM
nly never think of them, with a view
of making initiates of them. l expect
to see the sentiment grow against
them rather than in their favor.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity
holds it's biennial convention in Allan
to. Georgia, during the Christmas re-
cess. Alpha Tau Omega meets at
Birmingham at the same time ana
number of other societies also are
scheduled to convene. 1t is stated on
good authority that the Jap question
will be discussed at these conventions.
The Japanese students at the uni
versity are conscientious, studlous
and bright They are favorites Win
the instructors because they are hon.
est. persevering and ambitious. One
of the two students who ever gradu-
ated with honors from the engineer
ing department at the university was
a Japanese, who is now DONG wen
in electrical engineering. A japanese
is one of the brightest men In the