The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-18
MEANS BUSINESS
President Roosevelt Repeats
Threat to Use the Military
To Suppress Disorders Growing
Out of the Japanese Trouble.
A Special MECCAGE
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
Transmitted to Congress Deal
ing With the Subject.
accompanied by the Report of
Secretary Metcalf.

Washington, Dec 1s.-Presfdent
Roosevelt has transmitted to congress
message relating to the Japanese
school situation in San Francisco. ac-
companied by the report of Secretary
Metcalf thereon. The message fol-
lows:
To the Senate and House of Represent
l inclose herewith for your informa-
ton the final report made to me per-
sonally by Secretary Metcalf on the
situation affecting the japanese in san
Francisco The report deals with three
matters Of controversy-firs the ex-
cluSion of the Japanese children from
the san Francisco schools; second, the
Doycottlng of japanese restaurants,
and, third, acts of violence committed
against the japanese
As to the first matter, I 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-
havior If these japanese children 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 fuldllment and means that they car
not have school facilities Let me
point out further that there would be
no objection whatever to excluding
from the schools any Japanese on the
score Of age. 1t is obviously not de-
sirable that young men should go to
school with children. The only point
IS the exclusion of the children them
selves. The number of Japanese chill
dren attending the public schools in
San Francisco was very small. The
government has already directed that
suit be brought to test the cOnStitu-
tfonality of the act in question; but my
very earnest hope is that such suit will
not be necessary, and that as matter
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 admira-
bly, put by Secretary -Metcalf, and
have nothing to add to his Statement
L am entirely confident that. as Secre-
tary MetCalf says the overwhelming
sentiment Of the state of California Is
for law and order and for the prOtec-
ton of the Jaus nese in their persons
and properly. Bet the chief Of police
and the acting mayor of San Fran
CISCO assured Secretary Metcalf that
everything OSSible would be done to
protect the Japanese in the city. 1 au-
thcrized ana directed Secretary Met
calf to state tkat if there was failure
to protect persons and property, then
the entire power of the federal gov
ernment within the limits of the con-
stitution would be used promptly and
vigorously to enforce the observance
of our treaty the supreme law OF the
land, which treaty guaranteed to jap
anese residents everywhere in the
UEIon full and perfect protection for
their persons and property; and to
this end everything in my power would
be done. and all the forces of the
Urited States, both civil and military.
which I could lawfully employ, would
be employed. 1 call especial atten-
ton to the concluding sentence of Sec
retary Metcalf's report of November
2G. 1906.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. Dec. IS, 1905.