The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-27
ON HURRY TRIP.
Secretary Metcalf VIII Rush
Ont to San Francisco
To Investigate the Trouble
With the Japanese.
GOVERNMENTS REPLY
To the Protest FiIef by the
Mikado's ambassadors.
It Claimed That Treaty Rights
Are Being Violated.
GOVERNMENTS REPLY

Washington, oct. 27.=President
Roosevelt has directed Victor H. Net
calf, secretary of the department of
commerce and labor to proceed to San
Francisco and make a thorough and
complete inquiry into the situation az
fecting the exclusion of japanese chill
dren from the schools provided for
white children and the determination
to place japanese pupils in separate
schools. The president is anxious 10
obtain at first hand from a cabinet Of
ficer who is acquainted with local con-
ditions in San Francisco, full tnforma-
ton affecting every phase OF the sub
ject, TO the end that whatever action
is taken by this government may be
after an accurate understanding OF the
situation. The president feels every
effort within the pale of the admins
tration should be exerted to see that all
the treaty rights claimed by the Jap
anese for their people residing in the
United States should be respected and
protected.
The determination to send Secretary
Metcalf to San Francisco was one Of
the results of the request made by Wis
count Aoki the ia panese am bassador.
who at a conference with Secretary
Root asked in behalf of his govern
ment that the Japanese children in
California be accorded their full rights
under the treaty OF 1894, including
that of the children to attend the pub
lie schools of San Francisco. This re-
quest was the subject of very long and
earnest discussion at the cabinet meet
Ing yesterday when the conclusion was
reached that the best thing to do was
to send Mr.. Metcalf to California to
secure personally all the data which
could have any possible bearing on the
situation. The dispatch of a cabinet
officer on such mission it was argu-
ed, would demonstrate to the Japan
csc the evident sincerity of this gov
eminent in dealing with the whole
subject and its desire to show that eve
I cry effort Is being made to get at the
facts.
Mr. Metcalf win leave washington
this afternoon and will proceed to san
Francisco with all possible dispatch.
+ Every facility VIII be put at his dis
! posal to make his investigation as
thorough as possible as the president is
anxious to have the Inquiry conducted
with all possible expedition in order 10
+ have the results at hand without de-
! lay. 1t is hardly likely that any report
from Mr.. Metcalf will be available be-
/ fore the president leaves on his Panama
f trip although Mr. Metcalf may send
some Of his information by telegraph
soon after he arrives at San Francisco.
It IS hoped by the administration off,
Gals that the expressed desire OF the
administration to secure the treaty
rights Of the japanese will tend to allay
the anti-American feeling in Japan un-
til the whole matter is automatically
adjusted.
During his investigation Secretary
Metcalf will If he find necessary com
municate with Governor Pardee Of Cal
ifornia, the mayor of San Francisco and
with the authorities of the school board
who have direct charge OF the schools
in which the japanese pupils have baen
denied admission. He also win consult
xr-44l ha Ion Ia off
San Francisco and other sources OF in
formation.
The inquiries to be instituted by Mr..
Metcalf are supplemental to the steps
initiated in San Francisco by direction
of the department of justice to compel
the authorities to receive Japanese spu-
pills into the public schools. Such in
formation as the United States district
attorney at San Francisco may furnish
the department bearing on the situation
will be made use Of In connection with
that secured by Mr.. Metcalf IN any fur
Their steps that may be taken by the
United States government.
Incidental to the inquiry ATr. MetcaIf
win pay some attention to the charges
made by Count Aoki to Secretary Root
that Japanese restaurant keepers In
san Francisco have suffered indignities.
These reports, the ambassador says
come from consular officers OF the Jap
anese government in San Francisco. At
least seven or eight reports have been
made concerning a boycott inaugurated
against these restaurants and the re-
port states that the agents have been
posted to prevent patrons from entering
the restaurants and in several in
stances stones have been thrown and
windows broken. The Japanese officials
in Washington say they realize these
demonstrations and the exclusion OF the
school children are local IN character
but every day it is harder to convince
the people of Japan the central
government is not responsible for them
The president is doing al IN his pow
er to show the japanese that there Is
no general feeling against the race, but
that the trouble is entirely local and
expressed qualification when he learned
through Ambassador Atold that the
japanese press is for the most part at
tempting to check the feeling against
Americans