Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-08
JAPANESE SITUATION.
SECRETARY mETcALF's REPORT
ON SAN FRANCISCO TRousLE.
Gives No Solution of the Problem Q
Race Prejudice and Organized
Labor.
sneoial Corresnondence.


Washington, ID. c., December 81
President Roosevelt is confronted by
a serious proposition in dealing with
the anti-Japanese sentiment in San
Francisco and, generally, on the Pa
cific coast Were it not for the notably
cordial relations which exist between
Japan and the American government.
unfortunate results might grow out OF
the attitude of the west coast people
toward the Japanese. Even in the
present circumstances. elements of
danger are not lacking, for the Japan
ese regard with marked disfavor the
position assumed by San Franciscans
toward their people.
At the instance of the president,
Secretary Metcalf, If the department
of commerce and LABOR, himself a Cali
fronian, visited San Francisco. with
the double purpose OF ascertaining the
precise facts regarding the anti-Japan-
ese movement and, II possible, to in
duce the people of that city to recede
from their position. While he did as
certain the facts, he did not succeed in
changing the opinion of the residents
of San Francisco. He has presented a
report to President Roosevelt which in
no respect tends to solution of the
problem. 1t indicates, in fact, that the
people of San Francisco resent any in.
reference of the federal government
in the matter and that they will re-
sist bitterly any effort that may be
made by the national administration
to force them to receive the Japanese
In their schools.
Two knotty problems enter into the
matter-race prejudice and organized
labor. The feeling of the people OF
the Pacific coast toward the Japanese
is very like the people of the south to-
ward the negro. They do not want to
have them in their schools and as
sociate with their children, particular
ly as most of the Japanese students
who apply for admission to the schools
are grown men and women. Objec-
ton to the Japanese also is made by
the labor unions, because they are dis
posed to work for a wage far below
that which American laborers demand
and are receiving. How soon the
president will announce the course to
be pursued by this government in the
| matter is not known, but it is quite
certain that no hasty action will b.
| taken.
Secretary Root, as the premier of
the administration, has assured the
Japanese government that the United
States will not for moment entertain
the idea of any treatment toward the
Japanese people other than that ac-
corded to the people of the most
friendly European nation. That senti-
ment, Incorporated in an official dis
patch to the Toxic government, seems
to commit the American government
to a definite course in support of the
| Japanese wishes.
The Japanese themselves have aban
doned their suit against the city Of
| San Francisco by advice of the Japan
! ese ambassador, and they will depend
upon the American government to han.
die the question to their satisfaction.
| II the president should feel that the
| Japanese are denied their treaty rights
under the California law, the secretary
of state will call the attention Of the
governor of California to the violation
of the treaty and request that 1t be
remedied. In case the remedy should
not be applied, the president will d.
rect the attorney general to bring pro.
ceedings against the state of Cali
| fornia to test the constitutionality Of
the law under which the Japanese stu
dents are excluded from the schools. 1t
is regarded as likely that the latter
course will have to be adopted.
1t is pretty certain that the whole
question of the coming Of the Japan
ese to this country will be precipitated
In congress, perhaps at this session.
Representative Hayes, of San Francis
CO. has indicated his intention to in
troduce a measure on the subject and
the immigration authorities already
are investigating 1t. No doubt exists
/ that the matter is fraught with serious
danger.
VIII LAVE TONS OF MEAT