The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-12-20
THE JAPANESE TROUBLE
Presidents Special Message on San
Francisco Situation.
HOPES AFFAIR WILL BE SETTLED
Mr.. Roosevelt Declares All Govern
ment Power Will Be Used to Pro-
teet the Persons and Property Of
Aliens

tect the Persons and Property Of
Aliens.
Washington. Dec. 10. - President
Roosevelt sent a special message to
congress transmitting herewith the
special report of Secretary Metcalf on
the situation affecting the Japanese in
San Francisco. The presidents mes
sage is as follows:
ITO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives.
81 enclose herewith for your infor-
nation the final report made To me
personally by Secretary Metcalf on the
situation affecting the Japanese in san
Francisco. The report deals with
three matters of cOntroversy-fi the
exclusion OF the Japanese children from
the San Francisco schools, second.
the boycotting OF japanese restaurants
and third. acts OF violence committed
against the japanese.
AS TO the first matter. | call your
especial attention to the very small
number of japanese children who at
tend school. to the testimony as TO the
brightness. cleanliness and good be-
hayior of these japanese children in
the schools. and To the fact that. owing
to their being scattered throughout
the city. the requirements for them
all u 20 to one special school is inn
possible OF fulfllment, and means that
they cannot have school facilities.
Let me point out further that there
would be- no objection whatever to eX-
Guiding from the schools any Japanese
on the score OF age. II is obviously
not desirable that young men should
20 To school with children. The only
point IS the exclusion Of the children
them elves. The number Of japanese
children attending the public schools
In san Francisco was very small. The
government has already directed tina;
suit be brought 10 test the constitu-
tiouality of the act in question; but
my very earnest hope is that such suit
viii not be- necessary. and that a.
matter Of comfy the citizens OF San
Francisco Will refuse to deprive the
young japanese children Of education
and Will permit them to 90 to the
schools
The uurftion as TO the violence
against the japanese IS most ad-
mrably pr; hy Secretary Metcalf, and
! have nothing to add TO his state
ment am entirely confident that. a.
Secretary Meicalf says. the over
whelming sentiment OF the state OF
California Is FOR law and order and
for the protection of the Japanese in
their persons and property. Both the
chief Of police and the acting mayor
OF san Francisco assured Secretary
Metcalf that everything possible would
be- done TO protect the japanese in the
city. authorized and directed Secre-
tary Metcalf To state that II there was
failure 10 protect persons and prop
erty then the entire power OF the led
eral government within the limits OF
the constitution would be used prompt
IN and vigorously TO enforce the OBJ
soryanre of our treaty. the supreme
law Of the land. which treaty guaran-
teed to Japanese residents everywhere
in the Union full and perfect protection
for their persons and property: and to
this end yerything in my power
would be done. and all the forces OF
the United States. both civil and mill
tary. which could lawfully employ,
would be employed.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Then follows Secretary Metcalf's re-
port OF the causes which led to action
by the San Francisco school authori-
ties against the japanese and the Pc
titions for separate schools for the
Monaghan children.