The Washington herald., 1906-11-18
JAP ISSUE UNSOLVED
San FranciScanS Resent In.
reference of Metcalf.
SECRETARY HOME; WON'T TALK
1t Is an Open Secret, However, that
Task of Inducing California City
to Treat NippOnese without Preiu-
dice Was Impossible of Accom-
pIiShment-1iay Lose Jap Trade.

Victor II. Metcalf. Secretary Of Com
nerce and Labor, returned last evening
from his special visit to San Francisco
where he went at the request Of President
Roosevelt to investigate the Discrimination
in the San Francisco public schools
against japanese children.
The seriousness Of the subject the
urgent and positive protests of the Japa-
nese government, lent the subject such a
weighty air that the President deemed il
best 10 get a personal and unbiased report
on the whole subject
Secretary Metcalf drove at once to his
house in n street, on arriving In the city,
and once there, declined absolutely 10 talk
TO newspaper representatives about his
mission.
My report is to be made to the Presi-
dent" he said, and you can see at once
the improperly of any utterance at this
time"
Resent Federal Interference.
1t is hardly a secret, however. that
the task-that Of bringing concord to the
conflicting elements in San Francisco
was practically impossible Of accomplish
ment- In effect, the attitude Of the school
authorities Of San Francisco IS de-
cidedly that they are amply able to care
for their own affairs and they resent any
thing that looks like an attempt at Fed
eral interference.
The feeling against the japanese on the
Pacific Coast is not by any means a new
thing, and the attitude Of the school au-
-1,r s-
ply the elimination Of a prejudice that
has been growing for years.
It is understood that Secretary Metcalfs
report to President Roosevelt will show
that it is hopeless 20 think Of changing
the mind Of the san Franciscans by argu-
ment, and that If it IS deemed necessary.
III order to retain the friendship of Japan
with whom hitherto our relations have
been extremely cordial. to break down the
discrimination against Japanese children,
the relief viii have 10 be sought through
the machinery Of the law.
May Lose Japanese Trnde.
The return Of Secretary MetcaIf has re-
opened the whole subject for discussion,
and last evening those best informed on
the matter were inclined TO take a rather
gloomy view of the situation. It was
pointed out by an army officer familiar
with the japanese character that if Sec
retary Metcalf's report to the President
shows his mission to have failed, the
japanese viii be likely 70 begin at once
active measures Of retaliation
It is pointed out that at present there
is a large volume Of japanese trade en-
tering the country through San Francisco
that can easily be diverted 10 a northern
port on the Pacific coast
1t is even said that such is the japanese
ascendency in trade over her big neighbor,
China, that the merchants Of Nippon could
easily use their influence TO divert much
OF this trade also.
There is much speculation as to what
the President viii do on his return to this
country Il Secretary Metcalfs report
should prove Unfavorable, as II is feared
1t is known that he IS in favor Of the ut
most fairness to the japanese, and this.
coming on top Of the recent exposures Of
graft IN the earthquake city, may cause
him once more TO use the big stick