The Washington herald., 1906-11-28

/ or all the questions President Roosevelt
found awaiting his attention on his return
from Panama. that relating TO the exclu-
sion of japanese students from the regu-
lar public schools in san Francisco is the
most important and the most delicate
Secretary Metcalf, whom the President
sent to California 10 investigate the sub
Ject, made brief oral report at the Cabi-
net meeting yesterday, but details were
not gone into. Last night the Secretary
called at the White House and remained
in conference with Mr.. Roosevelt for some
time.
The President Is now digesting the writ
ten report which Mr.. Metcalf submitted.
and until he has had time TO consider the
subject more thoroughly will not decide
whether it is to be made public or con-
sidered as a confidential document
Secretary Metcalf declined 70 discuss
any phase Of the matter, and no state
ment was forthcoming at the White
House. It IS understood that the Score
tary was received with all due courtesy
by the officials and people Of San Fran
cisco with whom he dealt, but that ab-
solutely no progress was made toward
settlement Of the unsatisfactory condi-
tons resulting from the segregation of
the japanese students.
Californians Resent Interference.
The Californians are understood 10 have
told him, in effect, that they were quite
capable Of handling the case as a local
issue. They feel confident that they were
entirely within their rights as citizens Of
a sovereign State. and that the Federal
government has neither authority nor
justification for interference.
This renders the situation all the more
delicate. The japanese government. ap-
paTeutly, does not understand how state
can be Independent in such an important
matter. involving a grave international
question. as IT does. and they seem 10 be
sanguine that President Roosevelt will
find some way 10 adjust conditions salts
factorily 30 all.
II it develops that the President can
do nothing, the Japanese government will
doubtless acqUiesce IN the action of the
san Francisco authorities with the best
possible grace but there IS a suspicion
I'm diplomatic circles that It will have
difficulty in sUppressing an ebullitiOn of
anti-American feeling.
Resent Classification as Negroes.
The japanese people generally resent
more than anything else. apparently, the
implication that their countrymen in San
Francisco are to be classed with negroes.
They are uot impressed with the argu-
ment of the San Francisco officials that
it IS wholly impractcable to permit grown
japanese Of both sexes 70 go to the regu-
lar public schools and be assigned 20
classes with children many years their
iGaiOrs
Neither does the facts that the separa-
ton of white ard negro school children
IS practically confined to the South and
tfat the segregated japanese in San
Francisco are not compelled TO be class
mates Of negroes seem TO appeal to them.
Their idea is that any distinction be-
tween Americans and japanese in the
schools implies that the Japanese are to
ne regarded in the same light as negroes. /
This is the feature to which they object
most vigorously.
Members Of the California delegation I
decline to discuss the situation pending
the publication Of Secretary Metcalrs re-
port or some move by the President.