Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-21
THE BOARDS REPLY.

In the reply OF the board OF education
Is found the following:
The japanese have not been ex-
Guided from the public schools of San
francisco. Despite the fact that no
less parsonage than the president OF
the United States has employed a SINH
lar assertion in framing a message 10
Congress, and Notwithstanding the
wholly unfair report made of the entire
school incident by the secretary Of
commerce and labor, the Hon. Victor II
Metcalf, the declaration that the Jap
anese have been excluded from our
schools is an error.
The provinoialism' Of California. as
you term 1t, Is oddly enough reflected
In the hearts and minds OF people of
oregon and Washngton--Amerie
citizens whose patriotism does not
place in the soft glow of n far east
ern sun and whose life blood has been
shed more times than once In defense
of treaty rights, of liberty, Of justice
and the protection OF American in
Stitutions.
Let me say In closing that the board
Of education has not set out to offend
any race Of people or visit hardshipS
or even embarrassments upon them
The new rule In force would not even
be commented upon II the Japanese
children were permitted by their elders
and their mentors, quietly to attend
the oriental school, which, as ! have
said, is as excellent as any In the city.
Owe are spared the superhous de-
bates of diplomats and statesmen and
did the agents Of two great nations put
consent to refrain from scoring dip
lomatic point by using this school
topic as a preteSt, there cannot be any
question but that the Japanese child
rem would today be attending the ori-
entail school In happiness and content,
and there would not be the slightest
excuse for friction between the two
great nations that have enjoyed friend
ly relations in the past, and let US hope
may continue TO harmonic IN the
future
"The fact that the president Of the
United States, basing arguments upon
erroneous assumptions and framing
against a loyal people scathing critl-
cisms regarding matter when is
purely one OF local concern, does not In
the least deter the people OF the Pacific
coast who, after all, are doubtless the
best Judges OF their own immediate
needs and welfare. Neither do the
misleading deductions and recon-
mendations OF politician high in au-
thority, when voiced through docu-
ment which plainly sought the iight OF
favor and not of truth, impress the
people OF this locality with any sense
of doubt as to their rights as free-born
Americans or as to the justice or the
stand they have taken. Without the IN
PREVENTION of misinformed or pre1u-
diced public men, California would
deeply have appreciated an opportun-
ity TO exercise the fundamental right
to deal with this subject alone.
Il regret that have not the oppor-
tunlty here further to exploit this abb
sorbing topic, in the hope that | might
bring former Californian to the views
now entertained by every loyal citizen
OF the state, but at the same time let
me assure you that thoroughly appre-
ciate your valued letter, and that | am
not unrnindful of the weight and worth
OF the information which you afford
me.
THE greatest grievance in connec-
tlon with this matter with the board OF
education and the people OF California
now harbor is that motives should be
impugned, facts distorted and misap-
lied, and the entire subject be caught
I'D as a himsy excuse for a regret
table international debate, and a pre-
text upon which politicians may stir
the people Of two great countries,
yours respectfully,
''E. c, LEFFTNGWELL,
Secretary Board Of Education