The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-10-28
NETCALF'S WORK
MUST BE SPEEDY
TO AID PRESIDENT
Trip to Panama May Be
Delayed by Frisco
Affair.


plishment Of the mission OF Victor H.
Metcalf, secretary of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor who is being
sent by the President as special com
| missioner to investigate the japanese
conditions in san Francisco. depends
whether President Roosevelt can carry
out his program of the trip to Panama
without change.
Secretary Metcalf left Washington at
$40 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the
Pennsylvania limited for San Francisco.
by way OF Chicago. and IL his
train Is NOD delayed by the blizzard in
the Rocky mountains he win reach his
destination at o'clock next Wednesday
evening. 1t is believed that the Secre-
tary should have at least a week To
make his investigation. but he cannot
have more than five days, or six days at
the most, In order 20 return TO Wash
ingtOn before the time the President is
10 make his trip Ia order 10 reach this
city by November Mr.. Metcalf Will
have to leave San Francisco by Novem-
Der 3. and it is probable that he viii find
IT necessary to leave one day earlier
than that
The President is understood TO have
made IL plain at Fridays Cabinet
meeting that ne would not leave Wash
ington until Mr. Metcalf had returned
and reported 10 him the conditions. and
what had been accomplished. The
President is planning 10 leave Washing
ton on the afternoon of November Z, in
order 10 begin his journey on the battle
ship Louisiana from Hampton Roads
next morning
Il is confidently expected IN adminls-
tration circles that Mr. AIetcalf VIII be
able TO bring harmony out Of the sit
uatlon and the President regards him
as the best man a Z hand for the delicate
task assigned 10 him. The secretary
viii look carefully into the reports on
discrimination against japanese chill
dren by the school authorities OF San
Francisco. He will confer with the
mayor Of the city. the school officials.
the governor Of California, and all other
persons whose Information may be OF
value in arriving at the real facts IN the
case.
This step has been communicated TO
the japanese embassy here. and Am
bassador Aoki has cabled IL 20 his gov
eminent at Tokyo
II Is understood that the japanese
Ambassador has heard that politics is
al the bottom OF the whole trouble and
he will await the report of Secretary
Metcalf before again taking the matter
before the State Department.
Secretary bfetcaIr accomplished quick
and satisfactory results in San Francisco
Immediately following the earthquake
last April. as the Presidents special
commissioner on the scene. Being a
native OF California he is familiar with
political situations. and is looked upon
as the logical man for the mission.
Certain exchanges are stiI in progress
between the State Department and the
government OF Tokyo. through the
japanese Ambassador here. but TO eX-
PLANTATION as to their exact character IS :
forthcoming
Several kilograms passed between the
Department at Justice and the district
attorney at San Francisco, yesterday.
They presumably related 10 the instruc-
lions which had been sent that official
10 thoroughly post himself upon the
case Of the exclusion OF japanese pupils
from the schools at that place so that
Secretary Metcalf may act advisably
ia the matter Immediately upon his ar
rival
officials OF the State Department IN the
in the press dispatches
from London that an inquiry would be
made IN the house of commons
whether the treaty between Great Brit /
ain and Japan would require the Brit /
ish government to take sides with the
MikadO' in case OF war resulting from /
the embarrassing incident IN California. !
Advices from Tokyo indicate that the +
State Department did not wait for a
protest from the Japanese Ambassador I
here before f. entered a disclaimer and /
while feeling IN Japan seems 10 have
been allayed BY the friendly explana- /
ton of this Government. IL is feared ,
that the tension may be increased
by the intelligence from San Francisco /
that the local authorities there are de- /
termined upon the separation in the !
schools of the Japanese from the I
whites, and may prevent an early ad-
justment of the difficulty.