The National tribune., 1906-12-13
THE JAPANESE TROUBLE.
Tie Thing Agitates Congress Regulation
Of Immigration by the japanese Gov
ernment-Likelihood Of Temporary
Settlement.

The little Jap continues to agitate
Congress. sharing attention In the leg
islative halls with the negro soldiers.
Senatorial debate on constitutional
privileges, which 1t is alleged the Presi-
dent encroached upon in his now FAM
GUS threat to use the civil and military
forces to prevent injustice to the Jap
anese in California. In the meantime
the President is going right ahead with
his plans for handling the question.
The -Californians continue to fume and
fret; the members Of the California
delegation in Congress continue to give
out Interviews, but they are fully aware
that the President will do all he can.
The. story of new treaty was put
forth with much eclat. The Califor-
mans here seemed to encourage the
story Some believe they originated the
story, which gained such headway in
some newspapers. without means of
obtaining inside information here that
1t led to an authoritative and explicit
denial from the :, White House. The
framing of new treaty is out Of the
question. Japan would not think of 1t,
and the matter, it Is understood. has
never been suggested during the con-
ferences 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, just as
she did for a time three or four years
entirely in Washington, although it IS
well remembered in Hawaii. where the
ebb and flow of the japanese migra-
tions are watched in detail.
The Japanese Regulate Emigration.
'It was this very agitation in Califor-
mia 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 1t then,
because the restriction shut off the
supply of labor for the plantations. and
made it necessary for US to secure Por-
tuguese laborers. They claim to have
constitutional form Of Government
over there. with legislative branch,
but 1t is nevertheless a fact that the
japanese authorities can control the
movement of these laborers when they
wish to do SO. People of Hawaii re-
member well how the number of jap
anese passengers on the steamers from
the Orient was suddenly cut off and
then how the number was gradually
increased, months after the agitation
in California had died away. First
tney began 10 come Dy NItleS on the
big steamers Then each boat would
bring 100, then $50, and so on till the
restrictions at Tokyo seemed to have
been removed altogether
The President and Secretary Root
undoubtedly have assurance that some-
thing very like this Is to be repeated
for the purpose of quieting the agita-
tinn on the Pacific Coast. 1t is gen.
orally recognized here that that agita-
IA. L., u.
the surface even. and that the probe m
is much graver one than providing
school facilities for the so japanese
children of school age in San Fran
cisco.
A temporary solution of the Pacific
Coast troubles will apparently be found
In these prospective restrictions. altho
| the Japanese Government is not likely
to act precipitately. Public sentiment
| In Japan is so aggressive that the Min
| istry is not likely to do anything which
could now be interpreted as an inten-
| ton to accede to the demands of the
! United States. 1t is pretty safe pre-
diction, however, that the steeragc
quarters Of the Pacific liners, running
| from Japan to San Francisco and Seat
| tie, will soon cease to be crowded with
4 japanese laborers. The supply from
| Hawaii may continue for a while, be-
cause of the large number OF Japanese
in Hawaii. But the migration will grad
ually dwindle. All this will happen
unless something happens in this cOun,
try TO inflame the japanese people. The
program will surely not be announced
j from the White House or from tn.
State Department but will be executet
none the less steadily.
Il Only q Temporary Expedient.
II There will probably be further trou
/ BILE, because this is regarded as only
temporary expedient. The protest O
Californians and the exciting incident
y of the last two months with referenc,
to the japanese may be effective for
!, year or for two years. No one cal
q forecast how long OF how short tim
!, 1t will be before the migration is re
!, sumed Probably the Administratio,
. will try to defer II till after the mex
Presidential election. lest the wrath o
s. the Caiifornians turns that State owe
10 the Democratic columns, as politt
= clans in Washington say would hav
j happened last November had tn
: knowledge of President Roosevelt
; Message prevailed up and down the bi,
: Pacific Coast State. Possibly most O
| the CaIifornians in Congress will no
) be as troubled. II assured that the az!
; tation for exclusion will not flame fortI
/ oF$ ppocidanf pnnSovelf'