The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-05
PRESIDENT WARNS CALIFORNIA
THREAT OF MILITARY COERCION
OVER JAPANESE AFFAIR.
Tong cssn,en Aroused. Especially the Calf
fornians ana Southerners, VINO VIII
Form a CcaItion-Japan VIII Likely
re Appessed-Test Case 10 he Made.

10 ~'
v~AsHIsGToN. Dec. Whatever eject
President Roosevelt's references in his
sanusl message to Congress to the dis
Elimination against Japanese in California
may have in placating the Government and
reople of Japan, there was much comment
IN both houses of Congress after the mes
cage had been read that indicated a ten
iency on the part Of many Senators and
Representatives TO c~riticise the attitude
which the President mas adopted.
II ia evident at the very outset Of the
congress session that in some OF the things
he said concerning the ~snti-Japanese feel
iag on the Pacific Coast he has not struck
= popular chord. There is, however. a dis
position among Congressman to believe
hat the agitation will blow over and that
tho Japanese Government will come to
recognize that local conditions alone are
responsible for the discrimination against
its subjects in California.
President Roosevelt made plain in his
message that there was no sympathy what
ever on the part of the American Govern
ment with the attitude displayed towarl
Japanese by the authorities and tho people
~ the Western coast. and his language is
SO emphatic and 80 free from uncertainty
a. 10 his meaning that japanese must be
convinced, in the opinion of thoughtful
men in Washington, of the deep feeling OF
friendship for her which exists in this capital
and in all except a comparatively small
portion Of the United States.
While il is unquestioned that the great
majority Of Congress has 10 sympathy
with the discrimination against the Japan
ese on the Pacific Coast and fully approves
the Presidents vigorous assertion that
20 shut them from the public schools is
n wicked absurdity,' this does not mean
ths, all the President has to say on the
subject in the voluminous communication
laid before Congress to-day meets with the
appreciation Of an overwhelming number
of Senators and Representatives.
On the contrary, there were mutterings
If protest over some OF the Presidents
views, and the dissatisfaction was probably
directed toward one assertion he made.
Even as the law now is the President
declares, something can be done by the
Federal Government coward this end ito
Ell Ottt tTodNy AlHhbS GNCh WhOh Nhcy W.T.
Hict with state lawsl. and in the matter
now before me affecting the Japanese
Everything that it is in my power to do
viii be done, and all Of the forces. military
and civil, of the United States which | may
lawfully employ will be 30 employed"
Although it is generally admitted that the
Presidents announcement il a clear and
explicit warning that he will use the armed
forces OF the Government to compel States
and municipalities to respect the rights
guaranteed nv treaty to foreign subjects
residing within their borders, conservative
men in Congress were unwilling to believe
that he would go to that extreme without
the express authorization Of the national
legislature.
No matter how mildly Congressman
from other sections may view. the Presi-
dents declaration there is no doubt as to
how the California delegation stands.
This delegation is solidly Republican and
il apparently as solidly worked up TO a white
neat over the portion Of the message de-
voted to the treatment accorded japanese
subjects in the Pacific Coast State. The
members Of the delegation, angry as they
are, showed a reluctance to ~criticise the
President openly but commented on his
statements in terms that left no doubt of
their feeling of resentment.
The President has set up a man Of straw
and then proceeded to knock him down."
said Representative Needham. From an
ethical standpoint what he says sounds
very nice, but he has failed TO appreciate
conditions az they exist. SO far as the use
of the military forces of the country il con-
cerned 1 do not think that he can coerce
the sovereign state OF California II the
State has acted within her rights, as We
firmly believe she has.
AS TO citizenship for the Japanese we
are all unalterably opposed to such action.
That matter In a long time OF; we need
legislation 10 restrict the right of citizenship
rather than to increase IT,"
Representative Hayes. who represents
IN part the city Of San Francisco. said:
II the city Of San Francisco or the State of
California had violated any treaty which
the Federal Government made with Japan
under the Constitution then the President
would be justified in using the milit airy
forces al his command to enforce trea ty
rights, but we ave violated nc treaty rights.
The treaty in question does not give the
Japanese the right to be educated in the
same schools with the white children. This
rights not given TO some OF our own citizens.
for the Southern States have been Upheld
In their segregation Of the white and colored
children. Japan has no right under treaty
or otherwise 10 regulate our school system,
and I contend that any treaty which would
give her that right would be unoonstitu-
tional."
The Calfornians declare that they are
~ a loss to understand where the President
received his Information as to the condl-
ttons concerning the treatment OF the Japan
ese in their State. Their understanding II
that he did not get it from Victor J.. Met
calf, the Secretary OF Commerce and Labor,
Who is a Californian. Mr.. Metcalf was sent
10 California by the President on November
, and did not see the President again until
after Mr.. Roosevelt had returned from
Panama.
The California Congressman will have a
meeting this week 70 discuss h situation
presented by the Presidents recommended
lions. They will wait. as one member ex-
pressed II, until some of them cool OF. They