Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
SAN FRANCISCO ANGRY
MetcaIf Accused of Trying to
Please President.
SITUATION NOT IMPROVED
Agitation Against the japanese is
Growing Daily.
ALL OVER THE PACIFIC SLOPE
Board Of Education Shows No Inclina-
ton to Provide More Schools
for Orientals.
ILL OVER THE PACIFIC SLOPE

SAN FRANCISCO, December 2O-The
San Francisco board of education shows no
signs of yielding as a result of Secretary
Metcalfs report and appeal to President
Roosevelt President Altman repeats his
declaration that the board will not recede
from it's position regarding the oriental
school, and declares that he speaks not
for himself alone, but for all his asso-
ciates.
1t is surprising, but 1t is true, that Sec
rotary Metcalfs report has aroused far
more anger in San Francisco than did the
Presidents message to Congress a fort
night ago. The only reason for this, ap-
parently, is that Secretary Metcalf is a
Californian, and was expected to side with
the people of his state. Today, in spite
of the evident fact that he refrained as
much as possible from drawing conclu-
sions, and offering suggestions, he Is be-
ing accused of all sorts of things 1t is
declared that he drew up his report to
please the President and that he threw
over the Californians to do it. and 1t is as
serted that he had no right to mix up
the school question with the activities of
the Japanese and Korean Exclusion League
and the boycott of. Japanese restaurants.
Officials Amazed.
Tile city officials are quoted as saying
by Secretary Metcalf's statements, but with
the exception of a declaration that the
board of education is willing to establish
more than one school for orientals, and that
the japanese children would suffer no worse
hardshlps than many white children are
suffering If they trave,ed miles to go to the
existing schools, no argument is pressed In
reply to what the Secretary SAYS
Both these declarations are disineenuous
The board of education has SO far exhibited
not the slightest symptom of a desire to
provide more schools for the orientals, and
II is not question of Hardship for the
japanese to attend the oriental school-it is
impossible for those living in remote sec
lions of the city to do so. The school is in
the heart of the burned district and 1t
would take child living at the other end
OF San Francisco half a day to reach it.
May Grow Worse.
1t is to be feared that in spite of all the
efforts of the federal government the stu
alton will grow worse instead of better The
school question is relatively unimportant:
II is In the growing agitation against the
japanese In California, and not in Califor-
MIA alone, but all over the Pacific sIone
that the peril lies. The agitation is increas
Ing daily. 1t is being encouraged in every
imaginable way.
Yesterday, for instance, it is announced
that the pupils of a grammar school are
gong to have a debate on the Japanese
question, and portraits of the pretty little
girl who Is to lead the anti-Japanese side
and OF the boy who is to be the chief pro-
japanese debater are printed. AS for the
newspapers, an editorial in yesterdays Call
may be taken as an example of the sort of
thing that Is being said. The paper refers
to Viscount Aoki's speech in New York and
his assurances of continued friendship
from his country" adding:
1T is very well, but that sort of friend
shls VIII not do to bet on. We hear about
the ancient friendship that has existed be-
tween America and Japan and Of the graft
tude the Japanese feel to Commodore Perry.
We are disposed to call it diplomatic hum
bug. The Japanese hate us, but we do not
expect war on that account