The Washington herald., 1906-12-19
PUBLICOPINIONADVERSE
Explanation About Troops May
Change Sentiment. However.
Military to BE Used 0nIy in Event Of
Failure to Protect Persons and
Property Exclusion May BE
brought About without New Treaty
or Law-EnOrfs TO Change Chinese
Situation VIII Be Opposed.

| President ROosevelt's special mes
/ sage on the Japanese situation in CALI
! tornia, which was sent to Congress
! Yesterday with the report Of Secretary
Metcalfs Investigations in San Fran
cisco, was quietly received by members
OF both Houses For some DAYS the i'm
preston had been abroad that the mes
/ sage would be even more extreme than
were the references to the japanese
question in the regular message sub
mitted at the opening Of the session.
| but a glance at IL showed that this
was not the case.
| Members Of the Pacific Coast deIega-
/ tions are practically unanimous in the
| opinion that the attitude taken in the
/ special message is a distinct backdown
/ from that indicated in the regular mes
| sage They think that the whole coun-
try is inclined to view the matter from
the California standpoint, and believe
that this has had the effect Of causing
the President to modify his position
materially. They point out that when
the regular message was first pub
| lished. and astOnished comment was
forthcoming on what was taken 20 be
an implied threat to use the army and
navy TO force the san Francisco school
authorities to admit the japanese TO
the public schoIs attended by white
children, the President saw st to ex-
plain that it was his intention only to
give the country TO understand that he
would employ the military and naval
forces in the event Of riOting or vio-
lence against the OrientaIs.
How Troops would BE Employed.
The special message makes this
phase clear That portion of il relat-
ing 10 the use OF the army and navy IS
as follows:
7 authorized and directed Secretary
Metcalf TO state that If there was fall
urc to protect persons and property.
then the entire power of the Federal
government within the limits Of the
Constitution wcald be used promptly
and vigorously to enforce the observ-
ance Of our treaty. the supreme law Of
the land. which treaty guaranteed 10
japanese residents everywhere in the
Union fun and perfect protection for
their persons and property; and to this
y
done. and all the forces of the United
states. both civil and military, which
could lawfully employ would be en-
ployed."
Californians and others call attention
to the weIl-known fact that Federal
troops could not be used in that State
in the event Of trouble, except on the
request Of the governor. or perhaps.
in case of interference with the United
States mails; so, they say, what at first
was construed as a threat-and 50
construed on good grounds. they in
sist-nOw appears to be anything but
that
Advices received by Western Iegisla-
tors are that the people and the news
papers on the Pacific Coast are still re-
Sentful toward the President, because
of the references to the Japanese Ques-
ton in his annual message. Whether
or not the special message sent in yes
terday viii have any effect on the pre-
vailing sentiment in the West is a
question which the Coast Congressman
say they cannot answer.
My idea is said one Californian
last night that the first time the Pres
ident does one of those fine manly
things which always sends a thrill Of
enthusiasm throughout the whole coun-
try the people of California and the
Pacific Coast generally wiz throw I'D
their hats and hurrah with the rest.
and promptly forget all about their
feeling against him because Of tho
Japanese incident
New Treaty or Law Unnecessary.
The opinion is becoming general among
the California legislators that the friction
resulting from the opposition of the coast
States 10 the immigration Of japanese
laborers will be smootbed over. and
further trouble made impossible. without
either any Congressional action or the
negotiation of n new treaty Two or
three Congresses ago Representative
Kahn offered resolution which ELECTED
the information that the japanese gov
ernment had promulgated a rule restrict
ing the emigration of japanese subjects
to the United States to one hundred per
ship. This rule is not enforced
now. but it is pointed to as Indicative of
a willingness on the part Of the Mikado's
officials to cooperate with America in an
effort to decrease the number Of Japanese
coming to this country, and perhaps To
prohibit the entrance Of Iaborers entirely.
The general subject Of Asiatic immI-
grafton was discussed at an informal
conference Of legislators from California.
Washington. Oregon. Utah. Idaho. and
New Mexico held at the Capitol ycster-
day afternoon. In some quarters il was
expected that the meeting would take
some action rejecting the dissatisfaction
existing in the far West rs a result of the
Presidents attitude on the japanese Gues-
ton, but nothing Of the kind was forth
coming The Presidents name was not
even mentioned. Contrary to expectations.
also the meeting did not appoint a COM
mittee to urge favorable action on any
specific measure relating 10 the restric-
ton OF Japanese immigration or the cx-
clusicn Of Japanese coolies. All il did
was to decide that a committee appointed
al the beginning of the present Congress
TO represent the sentiment Of the Pacific
Coast States on the subject Of Orientll
be continued without IN
structions. This committee consists OF
Kahn. Hayes. and Nc
kinlay.
Exclusion Generally Favored.
1t was shown to be the sense of the
members Of Congress present that the
urther entrance Of japanese laborers into
he United States be barred, and II is
Inferred that the committee will act ac-
II, as has been suggested. il
appears that the desired end can be ac-
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