Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-27
WILL PROTECT THE JAPs.
President to Use Federal Power III
Frisco Authorities Fail.

Frisco Authorities Fail.
Full protection for every japanese
at San Francisco by the Federal gov
eminent is the keynote of the report
of former Secretary OF Commerce Met
calf on the coast situation. Mr.. Met
calf is seconded by President Roose-
welt, who, in d special message sent to
Congress repeats that he will do ev-
erything in his power, using "all the
forces of the United States, both civil
and military" toward this end.
With Mr.. Metcalfs report the Presi-
dent submits all the other data sought
by Congress on the exclusion of Japa-
nese children from public schools attend
ed by white pupils Secretary Metcalf
reviews the entire situation and gives
an account of assaults and other in
dignities suffered by the mikado's sub
jects in California. The report deals
with three matters of controversy
first, the exclusion Of the Japanese
children from the San Francisco
schools; second, the boycotting of jap
anese restaurants, and, third. acts of
violence committed against the Japa-
nese.
As to the first matter, says the Presi-
dent, / call your especial attention to the
very small number of japanese children
who attend school. to the testimony as to
the brightness, cleanliness and GOOD be-
havior of these japanese chill .ren In the
schools and to the fact that. owing to
their being scattered throughout the CITY.
the requirement for them all to go to
one special school is impossible of fulfil
ment and means that they cannot cave
school facilities. Let me point out fur
ther that there would be no objection
whatever to excluding from the schools
any japanese on the score of age. It is
obviously not desirable that young men
should go to school with children. The
only point is the exclusion of the children
themselves. The number of Japanese
children attending the public schools in
San Francisco was very small. The gov
eminent has already directed that suit be
brought to test the conStitutionality of
the act in question but my very earnest
hope is that such suit will not be neces-
sary and that as a matter of comfy the
citizens of San Francisco will refuse to
deprive these young japanese children of
education and will permit them to go to
the schools.
The question as to the violence against
the japanese is most admirably put by
Secretary Metcalf. and l nave nothing to
add to his statement. l am entirely con-
fident that. as Secretary Metcalf says. the
overwhelming 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 Fran
cisco assured Secretary Metcalf that ev-
erything possible would be done to pro-
tect the japanese in the city.
l authorized and directed Secretary
Metcalf to state that if there was failure
to protect persons and property, then the
entire power of the federal government
within the limits of the constitution
would be used promptly and vigorously to
enforce the observance of our treaty, the
supreme law of the land. which treaty
guaranteed to japanese residents every
where in the Union full and perfect pro-
lection for their persons and property,
and to this end everything in my power
would be done. and all the forces of the
United States. both civil and military,
which l could lawfully employ, would be
employed.