The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-12-26

and the matter, 1t is understood, has
never even been suggested during the
conferences and negotiations over the
San Francisco embroglio.
1t is expected that Japan will, of
her own motion, restrict the emigration
of her coolies to the United States, lust
as she did for time three or four
years ago. This seems to have been
overlooked entirely in Washington, al
though it is well remembered in Ha-
wall, where the ebb and flow of the
Japanese migrations are watched in
detail.
1t was this very agitation in Cali
fornia and Pacific Coast states,' said a
prominent resident of Honolulu here
today, "that led to the imposition of
restrictions on emigration by the Jap
anese authorities. We noticed it then,
because the restriction shut off the
supply of labor for the plantations and
made it necessary for us to secure
Portuguese laborcrs. They claim to
have "A constitutional form of govern
ment over there, with n legislative
branch, but it is nevertheless fact
that the Japanese authorities can con-
troll the movement of these laborers
when they wish to do so. People of
Hawaii remember well how the num-
Der of Japanese passengers on the
steamers from the Orient was sudden
ly cut off and then how the number
was gradually increased, months after
the agitation in California had died
away. First they began to come by
ffties on the big steamers. Then each
boat would bring one hundred; then
$50 and so on till the restrictions ut
Toxic seemed to have been removed
altogether"
The President and Secretary Root
undoubtedly have assurance that some.
thing like this is to be repeated for
the purpose of quieting the agitation
on the Pacific Coast. 1t is generally
recognized here that that agitation is
much deeper than appears on the sur
face even and that the problem is a
much graver one than providing school
facilities for the so Japanese children
of school age in San Francisco.
A temporary solution of the Pacific
Coast troubles will apparently be
found in these prospective restrictions,
although the japanese government is
not likely to act precipitately. Pub
JIG sentiment in Japan is 80 aggressive,
that the Ministry is not likely to do
which could now be inter-
preted as an intention to accede to the
demands of the United States. 1t is
n pretty safe prediction, however, that
the steerage quarters of the Pacific lin
ers running from Japan to San Fran
cisco and Seattle will soon cease to be
crowded with japanese laborers. The
supply from Hawaii may continue for
IA while, because of the large number
of japanese in Hawaii But the mi
grafton will gradually dwindle. All
this will come about unless something
happens in this country to inhame the
Japanese people. The program win
surely not be announced from the
White House or from the State De-
partment, but will be executed none
the less steadily.
There will probably be further trou-
BILE, because this is regarded as only a
temporary expedient. The protest of
Californians and the exciting incidents
Of the last two months with reference
to the Japanese may be effective for
year or for two years. No one can
Forecast how long or how short time
il will be before the migration is re-
'umed. Probably the administration
will try to defer it till after the next
presidential election, lest the wrath of
he Californians turns that state over
o the Democratic column, as polti-
ians in Washington say would have
appened last November had the
of President Roosevelt
Message prevailed up and down the big
'acific Coast state Possibly most of
he Californians in Congress will not
e as troubled, if assured that the agi-
alton for exclusion will not flame forth
gain until after President Roosevelt Is
uccessor is chosen Their own tenure,
or another two years, would not likely
70 affected, providing, of course, they
an command "A denomination.
ERNEST G.. WALKER.
A.