The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-13
ROOT BEHIND PROCEEDINGS.
Secretary of State Inspired Judicial
Inquiry Into Japanese Matter.

The fact that the entire question
OF the exclusion of Japanese students
from the regular schools in San Fran
cisco is to be settled in the courts is
due to Secretary of State Root, who
saw in this method means 10 clear
up the problem which has developed
into many complex phases. The
secretary expressed the opinion that
it would be the only way of effectu-
ally disposing of the controversy be-
tween the state and federal author
tiles
That the presidents views on the
subject meet with the hearty approx
al of the Japanese government was
made evident when Viscount Aoki,
the Japanese ambassador, said that
he had personally thanked the pres
ident for what he had said.
A rumor that new treaty between
the United States and japan was to
be negotiated, designed to remedy
any defects in one now in force, was
set at rest Wednesday when both
Viscount Aoki and Secretary Root
unequivocally denied that such a
thing even was in contemplation.
The California delegation in con-
gress has received what it considers
satisfactory assurai &C that the pres
ide.lt did not desire to be understood
as saying in the Japanese section OF
his message that he would use the
military force of the United States in
forcing Japanese into the California
schools in which white children are
taught.
Il is said to have been his purpose
to convey the idea that ne would use
the military to protect Japanese
against mob violence. Californians
take no offense at this Interpretation
of the message and agree that the
chief executive should do everything
in his power to protect Japanese as
we'll as all otter foreigners against
violence.
This whole San Francisco affair
is proving to be a tempest in tea
pot" Representative Julius Kahn
said Wednesday: at will die out
as soon as there is general under
standing as to why California takes
the position it does
The courts and not the public
must settle all the legal questions in
volved in the San Francisco school
situation. We are glad to know thar
the administration is taking steps to
institute action which will give the
courts a chance to pass on the valid
ity of the San Francisco school
boards action.
The Japanese question was practi-
cally the Only topic discussed by
members of the house Wednesday
and strong opposition to the presi-
dents policy is manifest. Senators
are avoiding discussion because they
do not deem it wise to aggravate a
situation which they know to be ex-
tremely critical Severai senators
who called on the president were in
formed that the real cause of trouble
lies in the wording of the ordinance
or law of San Francisco under which
Mongolians are excluded from the
public schools of that city.
1t appears that the law reads in ef-
feet that persons afflicted with con-
tagious diseases, Mongolians, etc,
must attend separate schools" The
japanese government objects to the
wording of the law more than TO the
segregation OF Japanese in such
schools
The president is very confident that
when the California authorities un
derstand. the cause of the Japanese
protest the law will be amended SO as
to- give no particular offense to the
japanese government. Senators are
of the same opinion.
All of the facts will be brought
out clearly and comprehensively in
the proceedings which are to be inst
tuted in the federal courts of Cali
fornia by the department of justice
for the purpose of testing the right
of the federal government to enforce
ment of its treaty obligations.