The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-19
METcALF ON THE JAPANESE.

METcALF ON THE JAPANESE.
Either the presidents intentions in
ffhe case OF the Japanese of San Fran
cisco have been misrepresented or he
has changed his mind materially since
riis reference to the matter in his open
ing message TO congress. The special
message transmitted to congress yes
terday contains no recommendation or
suggestion of federal interference with
The schools of San Francisco; its only
hint Of intention to use federal force of
any kind is in the closing sentence of
the message. which says: 81 authorized
and directed Secretary Metcalf to state
Ito the California authorities) that If
there was failure to protect persons and
property. then the entire power of the
federal government within the limits of
the constitution would be used promptly
and vigorously to enforce the observ-
ance of our treaty, the supreme law of
the land. which treaty guaranteed to
Japanese residents everywhere IN the
Union full and perfect protection for
their persons and property, and to this
end everything In my power would be
done, and all the forces of the United
States, both civil and military. which
I could lawfully employ would be EN-
ployed."
Accompanying the presidents mes
sage, which is in itself very brief, is the
report of Secretary Metcalf, who was
sent to San Francisco TO investigate.
In detail the report shows that there
are two causes of complaint by the
Japanese: one the exclusion of Japan
csc children from attendance at the
schools with white children; the other
complaint based on assaults made by
boycotters and hoodlums on Japanese
residents and visitors in San Francisco.
AS to the school question. Mr.. Met
calf presents g tabulated statement of
the Japanese attending public schools.
their age, grade in school and nativity.
OF ninety-three Japanese sixteen in the
eighth grade range from ii 10 20 years
of age; twelve in the sixth, from IA to
20; thirteen in the fourth, ages 10 to IS,
and seven in the third grade. ages 10
10 16. twenty-five arc native born citi
nens of the United States. Mr.. Metcalf
eays that In his opinion the objection TO
having young men In the grade schools
with children much younger is well
taken, and could be met by limiting the
age of children in the grades. The pre-
5udice against having japanese Of the
same age as white children in tthe same
schools he thinks is not well founded.
The state university and Stanford Uni
versity receive the japanese on equal
terms and regard them highly as stu
dents
The assaults by boyeotters were
traced to the Cocks and Walters union,
which posted pickets about japanese
restaurants and deferred customers who
were wont to patronize the places
Stones were thrown. windows broken
and the Japanese Injured personally
officials of the union disclaimed any re-
sponsibility for the boycott and de-
clared the union had taken no official
action in support of it. The police had
assured the japanese consul they would
afford protection and had posted officers
at the various restaurants to arrest Of
tenders and preserve the peace. The re-
staurant keepers testified that they had
finally agreed to pay $3.50 to have the
boycott declared OFF, and 800 of it was
paid to a man named Stevenson. but
the balance had never been called for.
One of the most fragrant cases of as
sault was made on DR.. Omori of the
University of Toxic. a distinguished
seismologist. and his party. who were
studying the effects of the earthquake.
and were attacked by hoodlums in San
Francisco and Eureka. The authorities
of both places apologized profusely and
the incident was minimized by the vic
Tins.
Concluding his report. Secretary Met
calf says he impressed strongly upon
the mayor and chief of police of San
Francisco the gravity of the situation.
and he adds: II also informed theg1